HEARTFELT APPRECIATION — During a reception held Wednesday in honor of his recent retirement, Rik Rekowski, center, outgoing director of the Mary H. Weir Public Library, was presented a mayoral proclamation by Weirton Mayor Dean Harris, right, while Rekowski’s wife, Lois, looks on. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — For well over 40 years, Rik Rekowski has been a fixture within the halls, shelves and indexes of the Mary H. Weir Public Library, and much of the Weirton community.

As with all books, though, Rekowski’s time at the library has come to a close, but not before a collection of his coworkers, colleagues, and friends could gather to celebrate his story before he begins the next volume.

Many of them came together Wednesday evening at the Millsop Community Center for a special reception in his honor.

Following a welcome by Molly Mossor, chair of the library’s board of directors, Rekowski, with his wife, Lois, by his side, was presented with a proclamation from Mayor Dean Harris, who noted the transitions Rekowski has overseen while at the helm of the library.

Harris noted the difficulty in being a caretaker of printed volumes in a primarily digital world and the potential of libraries to no longer be relevant.

“Rik has not allowed that to happen,” Harris said, noting Rekowski and his staff have been able to merge the two realms and keep the library as a focal point in the community. “Guys like Rik have kept libraries alive.’

This includes the establishment of an online digital catalog, providing free Wi-Fi and access to computers for the community, providing training sessions, an adult literacy program, children’s programming, the establishment of an outdoor art gallery and supporting local artists, hosting poetry forums, a summer reading program, and providing space for numerous local clubs including those involved in Lego, trading card games, and table top games.

Rekowski began his tenure at the Mary H. Weir Public Library in February 1982, originally hired as an extension services librarian to head up the local Bookmobile program. A native of Canonsburg, who grew up in Pittsburgh, he said many of his family and friends tried to talk him out of taking the job.

“I had a lot of people saying ‘Don’t do it,'” he said, noting he was convinced by one of his earliest visits to Weirton, where he saw the dark smoke billowing from Weirton Steel and the hustle and bustle of people visiting stores in the city’s downtown.

He recalled the growth of the Bookmobile during those years, which circulated 60,000 books per year through both Hancock and Brooke counties. During that time, he also oversaw library annexes at Overbrook Towers and Weirton Medical Center.

After spending some time as head of library automation systems network, he would take the big step in becoming the library’s director in 1987.

He said while there have been many changes in Weirton since those days, he continues to see hope and potential, along with new opportunities, noting the library will still be there to play a key role in the transformation and for future residents.

“Don’t be afraid. Don’t be anxious,” he said.

Duke Horstemeyer was part of the library’s board when Rekowski was hired, noting he was a product of Allegheny High School and Carnegie Mellon University, who worked as a teacher and a supplies technician at Allegheny Hospital before venturing into the world of literary stewardship.

“He was gold,” Horstemeyer said of the decision to hire Rekowski.

His work hasn’t only been focused on Weirton’s library, though. During his career, Rekowski established connections with other libraries throughout the state and region, making it possible to share resources and materials.

He was selected by the West Virginia Library Commission to represent the state at the Futurist Conference, and invited to participate in a national town hall in Philadelphia documenting how museums and public libraries are a catalyst for community development, as well as earning a Cool and Connected Broadband Grant for Weirton to develop a plan for broadband growth and economic development.

He was part of the inaugural class of the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership program, a 2019 inductee into the Weirton Hall of Fame, and has been active in Kiwanis and Salvation Army, among numerous other area organizations.

“You’re going to be missed. You’re going to be loved,” Mossor said. “You’re always welcome at the library.”