Chris Bradley is the Executive Director of the Mystic & Noank Library, and she brings a lifetime of service to the role. Originally from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Chris has been a librarian for more than 50 years, starting her career as a children’s librarian at the Boston Public Library in 1970. What began as an unexpected path, she once planned to earn a doctorate in medieval history because she has always loved history, turned into a calling rooted in helping people.

Over the decades, Chris has led and served libraries and library organizations across the country and throughout Connecticut. Her professional journey includes work with the Timberland Regional Library System in Olympia, Washington, an experience she describes as exciting and deeply focused on customer service. She later worked for the CT State Library, then spent a decade at the Kingswood Oxford School Library, ten years at the Norwalk Public Library, and also served as Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium and President of the Connecticut Library Association. Today, Mystic is home, and she joined the Mystic & Noank Library in December of 2020, toward the end of the pandemic.

Chris raised her family in Wethersfield, and now her family spans children in their 40s and a growing group of grandchildren, including teenagers and little ones. Outside of work, she keeps things refreshingly simple enjoying time with family, friends, reading, long walks, hikes, museums, and trying new restaurants. She is also an only child, a detail that helps explain her comfort with quiet focus, balanced by her love of connecting with people.

Ask Chris what keeps her rooted in community and she lights up about Mystic’s spirit. She speaks warmly about the sincere volunteer culture here, the kindness of the people, and the way community support feels real and mission-driven. That same mindset shows up in her leadership style which is collaborative, team-centered, and grounded in respect for everyone’s role. Chris believes libraries work best when every job matters, every person contributes, and the mission comes first. In her words, this work is not about personal accolades. It is about doing your best for an institution that will outlast all of us.

That people-first approach also shapes how she builds trust. Chris describes herself as casual, consistent, and “what you see is what you get.” She believes trust is earned through follow-through: if you say you will do something, you do it. She also loves that libraries draw people in by choice. Patrons come in looking for internet access, a scanner, a quiet place, a good book, or simply a small moment of ease in their day, and Chris genuinely enjoys the stories and conversations that unfold across the front desk.

Mystic feels like home to Chris for another reason too: the natural beauty. She loves the water, drives around Stonington soaking in the history, and hikes spots like Barn Island. She even walks to work each day, which is both practical and very “library main character” in the best way.

Chris is also helping guide the Mystic & Noank Library into its next chapter. She is quick to share credit, expressing deep gratitude for the Library Board of Trustees and her team and for the broader support the library receives from the community.

When it comes to reading, Chris is enthusiastic and open-minded. She loves mystery novels and audiobooks, and she has seen firsthand how downloadable audiobooks have helped grow library membership. She also helped launch a “Best Books” club designed for anyone to join, with the group working its way through The New York Times list of the 100 Best Books, proving that sometimes the best joy comes from a little challenge and a great conversation afterward. 

Chris is proud to be involved with community organizations, including the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce. She appreciates how the Chamber unites local business owners and creates connections that strengthen the community. She is also a member of the Mystic Rotary, as the group works to build momentum and expand its community impact.

Her advice for anyone looking to grow into their full potential is direct and practical: do something you love, in an environment you actually like, with people you respect. Challenge yourself. Push a little. And remember that work is bigger than a job title. It is about the shared goal, and the end result for the people you serve.

“Mystic is a really magical place and I feel very fortunate to be here and be a part of the Mystic & Noank Library,” Chris shared. And for anyone considering a library career, she offers a classic truth with a smile: you will not get rich, but you can have a good life.