The Appalachian Trail Museum's Research Library announces the retirement of its Founding Librarian and current Director, Linda Patton, and the appointment of its new Director, Kurt A.T. Bodling, effective December 7, 2021. The Library Director is responsible for all Research Library operations.
Linda retired in 2005 after 25 years as a Reference Librarian at Florida State University's Srozier Library in Tallahassee, FL. She founded the Museum's Research Library and became its Director in 2018.
Linda retired in 2005 after 25 years as a Reference Librarian at Florida State University's Srozier Library in Tallahassee, FL. She founded the Museum's Research Library and became its Director in 2018.
Kurt recently retired from a 40 year career in libraries, museums, archives, and historical societies. Most recently he was the Technical Services Librarian in the research library at George Washington's Mount Vernon for 10 years. His earlier positions included: Rare Books Librarian at the State Library of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA; Director of Library Services, College Archivist, and Associate Professor of Religion at Concordia College, Bronxville, NY; Associate Librarian at The Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE; and Assistant Director for Reference and Information Services at Concordia Historical Institute, St. Louis, MO.
Kurt holds a masters in library science from the University of Illinois. He also earned 2 masters degrees in theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Kurt has been a hiker and walker since his Boy Scout days. In 2002 he completed a southbound end-to-end hike of the Long Trail in Vermont. In 2013, he walked the 100 kilometer One Day Hike on the C&O Canal from Washington, DC to Harpers Ferry, WV in 18 hours and 51 minutes. He tied for 28th out of the 98 starters.
Then, during a 2015 leave of absence from work, Kurt hiked the 1,500 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, GA to Great Barrington, MA. Subsequently, he has added the 287 miles to Franconia Notch, NH to his total.
Kurt and his wife Ann, of Dillsburg PA, chose their retirement home partly based on its proximity to the Trail and to the Appalachian Trail Museum. Ann also volunteers at the Museum, helping with the native plant landscaping along the Museum's front walkway.
The Appalachian Trail Museum Research Library acquires books, periodicals, and information in other formats that tell the stories of the founding, construction, preservation, maintenance, protection, and enjoyment of the Trail since its creation. The Library preserves and makes these materials available in order to portray the history of the Trail and the essence of the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual human experience of the Appalachian environment and the culture of hiking. It is open by appointment.
The Library's website is at: https://www.atmuseum.org/research-library.html
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