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The Board of Library Trustees is the chief policy making entity for the Library and has the powers and duties set forth in Sections 3-7 and 6-7 of the Town Charter and Chapter 61 of the General Bylaws.
Specific roles and responsibilities for the Board of Library Trustees, the Library Director, the Town Manager, and Library Staff can be found here
The Board of Library Trustees can be reached at librarytrustees@dedham-ma.gov.
Rita ChapdelanieRita has lived in Dedham since 2020 with her husband Adam and two kids, Pearl and Roger. Rita is a long-time lover of books, and Friend of the Library. Rita is a licensed independent clinical social worker who oversees the Behavioral Health Division at Pine Street Inn and is a faculty member at the Boston University Graduate School of Social Work. She also serves on the board of the Dedham Food Pantry.
Brian Keaney (Vice Chair)Brian is a mostly life-long resident of the town, having lived for times in Washington, D.C. and Honolulu, but he always comes back to Dedham. After graduating from Dedham High School he earned a bachelor’s degree from The Catholic University of America and then a Master’s Degree from Harvard University. Brian works for a Cambridge-, Zurich-, and Tokyo-based pharmaceutical company where he writes about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and virtual reality. As a writer, Brian appreciates the power of the written word and vast access to knowledge libraries afford. This not only includes books and databases, but the tools, games, science equipment, and other objects that are lent out, as well as the programming offered.
Crystal Power (Clerk)Crystal is a life-long resident of Dedham and graduate of Dedham Public Schools. After earning degrees in English, Psychology, and Elementary Education, she worked as a third-grade teacher for eight years. Her work in graduate programs for Special Education and English Language Learning helped to build the foundation for her current work as an Instructional Coach and Curriculum Developer for elementary history and social studies. Her grandmother instilled a love for poetry and storytelling early on, and some of the treasured texts in her library include the poetry of Wilfred Owen and other World War II poets to Shakespeare’s Complete Works.
Annette RaphelAnnette has been a Friend of the Library and, during her tenure, she helped with many of the book sales that have raised money for the library’s programs, equipment and furnishings. Annette has retired from heading both The School at Columbia University and Belmont Day School. She has also worked as a principal at The Shady Hill School and Milton Academy where it was clear that the libraries controlled the heartbeat of the schools. She has a B.S. in Education from Northeastern and a C.A.S from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Annette is a frequent and appreciative patron of the library.
Tom Turner (Chair)Tom has lived in Dedham since 2000 and currently resides on Richards Street with his wife, two sons, and a chocolate Labrador. Growing up in Yorkshire (UK), Tom’s parents owned a bookshop in the town that is portrayed in the PBS series All Creatures Great and Small, so he has been around books all his life. After graduating from university with a degree in English Literature and Spanish, Tom became a high school teacher in New Hampshire before moving to MA to pursue his wife. Tom retired in January 2020 after 20+ years as a software executive and CEO in Boston’s cyber security community. He sits on the Board of Three Squares New England and is also the chair of the Dedham COVID-19 Relief Fundraising committee.