ERVING — Sporting her purple face mask and a “Build a Better World” T-shirt, Erving Public Library Director Barbara Friedman emerged from the library last Thursday in response to police sirens and honking vehicles.
The hubbub was part of a parade organized by library assistants Jean Daley and Andrea Deluliis, and Becky Hubbard of the Friends of the Erving Public Library, in honor of Friedman’s retirement after 11½ years as library director.
“I was totally surprised,” she said. “I was expecting one of the librarians to stop by to say goodbye, but not this.”
A steady stream of vehicles, many decorated with signs, streamers and balloons, made the short trip around the parking lot of the Erving Senior & Community Center on Care Drive to honor Friedman, who spearheaded efforts to build the new library she was standing in front of.
Having worked at universities and public and private libraries for 40 years before coming to Erving, Friedman was familiar with the process of working with the state to build new libraries. She arrived at the old library at 17 Moore St. in 2008, and in 2012, the library was put on a list for grants from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The Erving Public Library eventually received a $2.7 million grant, which was matched by the town of Erving.
After breaking ground next to the Senior & Community Center in March of 2019, the new building opened this March. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new edifice was shuttered less than two weeks later, cutting Friedman’s time in the new, modern library short.
After the parade, Friedman sat at a table in the shade next to the library to visit with staff members and friends, many of whom brought her gifts.
“I really enjoyed the people of Erving,” she said. “They are sweethearts and they taught me a lot.”
Her daughter, Sarah Lish, and son-in-law Tom Lish, of Templeton, were on hand for the celebration. Friedman also has two sons, Jonathan Friedman, of Winthrop, and Elliot Friedman, of Germantown, Md.
Friedman recently moved to Ashburnham where she said she intends to “use libraries instead of running them, and I can’t wait till they open back up.”
Reach Paul Franz at 413-772-0261, ext. 266 or pfranz@recorder.com.
