New Logo Shows Library's Roots in Community

By SANDRA RHODES

The work the Bradford Area Public Library does is deeply rooted in the community. That fact is apparent in the new logo design unveiled by the library earlier this month.

The new logo, approved by the library’s board of trustees, features a tree growing out of the pages of a book. Inside the tree are all the things that bring the library to life – books, computers, and even Whispurr, the library’s resident cat.

The new logo was designed by Allison Ambrose of Bradford.

“Allison took the very best parts of the library, worked her magic and delivered the perfect logo to us,” said BAPL President and CEO Tamara McIntyre. “We have already started to incorporate this new look in our material such as our Facebook page, our new website, which has not been unveiled yet, and stationary. When people see this logo, they will think of the Bradford Area Public Library.”

Ambrose said she was inspired after doing some research and stumbling across knowledge. That developed into doing more research on the “tree of knowledge,” which eventually became the basis for the logo.

“I then drew my own images, combining some ideas I found in the research and what popped into my head,” Ambrose said. The tree in the logo has a few different meanings to me. It represents knowledge, growth and renewal; all fantastic qualities of our public library.”

And while library officials did not request a cat be part of the logo, the graphic designer for 19 years knew it had to be.

“I don’t think I could have done a logo without Whispurr,” she said. “A cat has been part of the library for as long as I can remember. Even as a little kid I remember a cat over at the former library on Congress Street … that was just a natural design element for this logo.”

Ambrose has also done logo work for local surgeon Dr. Robert Tahara and many other logos while she worked at Bradford Regional Medical Center. She also does a variety of other design work such as stationary, national magazine advertisements and billboard design, to name a few.

Ambrose, who is the marketing and graphics coordinator at Control Chief, is married to Lloyd Ambrose. The couple has three children, Payton, Dawson and Jaron.

“They are my best critics. They always tell me which one they like best and give great feedback. (The kids) have been pulled into my design world all of their lives so critiquing is a normal part of their world.”