Public librarian at the age of 8

In today's society, it is estimated that an individual changes careers three to seven times during their work lifetimes and has multiple employers.

I certainly do not fit that description.

My mother used the little library in her hometown of New Matamoras, Ohio, promoted by her father who was a "grade school teacher" for 40 years.

She moved to Marietta to attend business college and when I came along, she took me to the "big" public library in town to introduce me to her love of books and libraries.

At the age of 5, I was introduced to the big library, the only one in the country that sits on a prehistoric Indian mound.

I was absolutely fascinated with the huge building with high ceilings, ornate woodwork and books everywhere. Books even for my age and size.

Mom would gently assist me in selecting my books, never complaining that I would check out "Make Way for Ducklings" multiple times.

My second-grade teacher was Opal Bole, and she happened to work at the public library in the evenings, and she promoted my library use.

She suggested that I should get my own library card. At the age of 8, I told my mother that I wanted to become a public librarian when I grew up.

Fate would have it that Mrs. Bole became the high school librarian at the same time I reached that school, and told me that the public library had an opening for a page, a student who shelved books and did errands at the public library.

And so, on Dec. 22, 1970, my public library career began thanks to Richard Neyman, the director of the Washington County Public Library, who hired me as a page, working evenings and Saturdays.

He also provided me with opportunities to work in different departments of the library while in high school and college, both serving as mentors for my career.

With my education completed at West Virginia University, and my master's degree in the School of Library Science at Case Western Reserve University, I was off to Delphos to be a public librarian.

After six years, I found a listing for the position of director of the library system in Steubenville, and Floyd Dickman, a consultant at the State Library of Ohio suggested that he thought I would be a "good fit" for the job and suggested I apply.

On March 17, 1983, I had my first interview for the job, with the library board committee consisting of John Maltese and Robert Freese. The library system was without any administration at that time, and Maltese was managing the library on behalf of the board, and he had definite ideas of what needed to be done. Computers were needed, he exclaimed.

New library funding was coming in 1986 as Ohio had repealed the previous tax funding and replaced it with a new fund, and it all needed managed.

The interview included a tour of the Main Library building, one of the first Carnegie libraries constructed in Ohio.

A second interview followed with me and my wife, and a job offer was extended. The board said that I needed to add a West End branch to the system, manage the new funding, hire a new assistant and get computers into the library.

There was a lot on my plate, but with the energy expressed by the board, I was ready to be started with my task on June 1, 1983.

And so began my 36 years at the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County.

We became one of the first four library systems to join the SEO Consortium -- which now has 98 library systems and 277 service locations online (with computers), the Schiappa Branch Library opened on Groundhog Day 1987, all the branches have been replaced or renovated, the new state funding and levy are in place and the library has benefited from a great staff to make it all work.

Over the years, I met many other public librarians from around Ohio, many who served as mentors to me, and I hope I returned the favor.

At my retirement party in 2019, the directorship of the library system had been passed to Mike Gray, my assistant director.

I had been named to the Ohio Library Hall of Fame, and nominated to the board of the State Library of Ohio. I had been a public librarian since 1970, but can I still be part of the profession?

Mike told me that someone needs to be an online cataloger for the library to add new records to the system and edit records, and he knew I could mend books, something no longer taught in library school.

So, on May 1, 2019, I began typing catalog cards as an online, OHIONET volunteer cataloger a couple days a week.

Except they are now on a computer and I have to be trained on the new software and do some sort of social media from time to time.

I do tours of the Main Library because I know its history.

My mom died in 1981, but I am sure she would be pleased at my choice to become a "public librarian" at such an early age.

Maltese would also be pleased that the library system is full of computers and automated all around, and yes, I am still a public librarian.