Fries ready to lead

NEW LONDON — The New London Public Library recently welcomed its new director. Brooke Fries, a Norwalk native, began her new job on June 22. Fries graduated from Norwalk High School and earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the Ohio State University and a Master of Library and Information Science from the Catholic University of America. Describing herself as "curious and a lifelong learner," she says she got her biology degree because she thought being a researcher was the career path for her. However, while working on the degree, she was employed part time as a children's library assistant at the Huron Library, which opened her eyes to a new idea. "I've always been a library user and I began to see that research would probably turn me into a specialist," Fries said. "I wanted to be a generalist, instead, and libraries seemed the place for me." She moved to the Washington, D.C. area with her husband Cole Foos, a Clyde native, for his software engineering job. There, Fries worked for over a year for a private school as a librarian and a computer teacher. Remembering the old "when in Rome" adage about adapting to her present location, she decided to try working for the federal government and accepted an internship with the Park Service and then employment with the Federal Reserve in records management. After almost four years in D.C., both she and Cole decided they were ready to leave the bustling city and move back home. Coincidentally, she saw the ad from the New London Public Library for a director and immediately applied for the job. Fries is the daughter of Dana Snyder, a 1993 New London graduate, and Mike Fries, a 1993 Norwalk St. Paul graduate. They met at the Huron County Fair and today live in the Norwalk area. Dana is the daughter of Rob Snyder and his late wife Sandy, who lived across from the library where Sandy worked as a clerk for 20 years. During that time, Fries was often in and out of her grandparents' home and the library and says, "working here feels like coming home." "Working in New London is really special and sometimes it is hard to believe I am here," she said. "The staff is wonderful, the patrons have been very welcoming, and I look forward to the future." In addition to leading the library, Fries wants to be part of the community and is already a member of Rotary. She invites everyone to "stop by and say hi and see what the library has to offer."