Murphy – Within the walls of the regional libraries, there’s a librarian building something extraordinary, not with bricks or mortar, but with books, puppet voices and a boundless heart.
Bridget Wilson – better known by all as Miss Bridget, the youth services librarian of Nantahala Regional Library – has made a lasting impact on young readers in Andrews, Hayesville, Murphy and Robbinsville.
For almost 15 years, Miss Bridget has been the magic behind storytime, her voice carrying the words of Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle and other children’s authors with a sparkle that turned an ordinary day into an unforgettable adventure. Whether reading a book, painting polka dots or doing silly dances, she never shies away from inspiring young readers to embrace a love of reading.
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Raised in Coker Creek, Tenn., Miss Bridget has always had deep roots in the mountains. Growing up, she wanted to be a teacher due to having a stern yet loving teacher in third grade who would bend over backward to help her students.
“Looking back, I think I was destined to be a librarian,” Miss Bridget said with a smile. “In college, I took a children’s literature course and had a work study job in the library, and I realized then how much I loved books for kids.”
A few of her favorites are Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, which she often recommends to advanced young readers due to their extensive vocabulary and complexity, yet with content that is appropriate for the age group.
Once finishing her graduate studies at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, she began looking for librarian jobs and when one became available at the Nantahala Regional Library system, she knew she found a home.
“As a kid, we would picnic in Hiwassee Dam, go to the flea market, and I later found out I do have deep roots in Cherokee County, sometimes I forget I’m in a different state,” Miss Bridget said. “I like all aspects of my job, from doing programs with the kids to picking out new books. It’s fun to connect with people and meet new families.”
Over the years, Miss Bridget has led hundreds of story hours, crafted countless creations and inspired everything from book-to-movies parties to even a Squishmallows party complete with mini-Bigfoots. Many of the children who have participated in programs throughout their lives are getting older and beginning to set off on their own adventures.
“Some of my first storytime kids in Andrews graduated this year from high school,” Miss Bridget smiled. “It’s exciting to see all of the graduation announcements in the newspaper and posts about the seniors because it tickles me when I see a child I knew when they were 3 years old.”
While a second generation hasn’t begun to come through the libraries yet, Miss Bridget is excited for the day to come. She still holds memories of children through the years who made her smile like a little boy from Murphy seeing her in the store and calling her “LIBRARIAN!” at the top of his lungs, or a little girl in Andrews who thought Ms. Bridget and Storytime were synonymous.
“Some of these kids I keep up with on Facebook through their parents,” Ms. Bridget said. “Even though they’ve aged out of my program, it’s still nice to see what they’re doing. It’s rewarding!”
The annual Summer Reading Program has become a local tradition, even after going virtual for a couple of years during the pandemic, with kids sprinting to the library each week to update their reading logs and participate in the weekly scavenger hunt.
Children from all over, whether too young for school, homeschooled, or in public schools flock to the library weekly to enjoy the wonderment of stories. Parents often rely on these services to help young readers find out what they like.
“When parents tell me their kids don’t like to read, my response is that they haven’t found the right book yet. I’ll tell parents to play to their kid’s interests, eventually, through that they’ll find favorite books and branch from that can expand to find read-alike books,” Miss Bridget said. “Whatever a kid wants to read, I’ll get it because anything that gets them to read is fine in my book.”
In an era of fast screens, she has been a steadfast champion of stories. Her attentive nature of “reading the room” has transformed the children’s section into a sanctuary of wonder, warmth and storytelling magic.