Bray plans to spend the coming weeks learning more about the library, its staff and the city. The library board appointed Bray at its March 12 meeting.

While Bray said she has ideas for the library, she wants to learn more about its strengths before making any proposals.

"It's my opinion that a director comes in with their eyes and ears open and their mouth closed for a little while," she said. She did say that she hopes to raise the library's public profile.

The five-branch Trenton Public Library has had four directors since 2001 and has had three others serve temporarily in the top full-time staff position. After clashing with library board President Adrienne Hayling and leaving abruptly, Hughes called for new library board members; regular, well-advertised public board meetings; and a forensic audit of the library's finances over at least the past 10 years.

Bray said she plans to stick around and that she looks forward to a good relationship with Hayling.

"I serve at the will of the board, but I have every intention of being here and working with the staff and citizens of Trenton to provide the best library services possible," said Bray, who added, "I have found Mrs. Hayling to be an absolutely charming woman and I believe she has only the best of intentions."

The new director and her husband, Tim Bray, have been renting a home in the city's Mill Hill neighborhood. The couple had been planning to move to New Jersey when she saw an ad for the director position.

"My husband and I have absolutely fallen in love with Trenton," said Kimberly Bray, who singled out the city's history and the friendliness of its residents. She noted that while the couple has been watching the television miniseries "John Adams," they have enjoyed exploring Revolutionary War era sites in and around Trenton.

While she may not be ready to begin new programs, Bray expressed enthusiasm for a teen book club initiative the library plans to start this summer. The program will be among the projects funded by a $4,000 grant from Commerce Bank, according to Assistant Director Larry Kroah, who previously served as director from 2004 to 2006 and has been the top administrator since Hughes left.

Hayling said the board is excited to have Bray, describing her as "the most enthusiastic (director) they have seen in a long time."

She said the dispute with Hughes was a "chapter that's closed" and the board is hoping to move forward.

"I really think this is what we have waited for, and I think it is going to be wonderful for the system and for the city," Hayling said.

Bray spent nearly nine years with Salt Lake City's public library, serving as a branch manager before becoming manager of technical services, a position that put her in charge of managing acquisitions and cataloguing the library's material.

A self-described "Army brat" who moved around the country while growing up, Bray attended college at the University of Kansas and has master's degrees in library science and business administration. She also has served as a library administrator at Washington State University and at a private school in Kansas City, Mo.

Contact Andrew Kitchenman at akitchenman@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5706.