HANCOCK COUNTY — In today’s workplace, jumping from job to job every few years has increasingly become the norm.
Someone forgot to tell the staff at the Hancock County Public Library.
Four staff members and once recent retiree have each celebrated their 20-year milestones and then some, working a cumulative 109 years together over the past two decades.
Mary Lynn Burrows recently celebrated her 25th anniversary working at the library, starting out as a part-time clerk before eventually transitioning to her current role as executive assistant to director Dave Gray.
“The job has changed so much over the years,” said Burrows, 64, whose duties now include assisting the director, the library board and volunteers.
In the past quarter century, she’s witnessed the library undergo several expansions and enhancements, like providing online access of an increasingly diverse offering of books, music and other materials.
Milestones like offering digital online registration for summer school have been amazing to see, said Burrows, who can remember back when children would stand in multiple lines waiting for their chance to register for the summer reading program in person.
The library’s technological advancements have blown away Burrows, who remembers the time she temporarily knocked out the library’s computerized circulation system. “I accidentally bumped into a wire, and it took the whole circulation system down,” she recalled with a laugh.
“Luckily the tech person on staff jiggled a few wires and had it back up within a few minutes,” she said. “Back then we only had one technology person, whereas now we have a whole staff.”
Jeanette Sherfield has also marveled at how the Hancock County Public Library system has grown since she first started working as branch manager of the Sugar Creek branch in the summer of 1999.
“Throughout that time I’ve been able to see the branch grow, starting out in an 800-square-foot building, advancing to a 7,500-square-foot building and then doubling that size at the current building,” she said.
“It was exciting to be involved in the whole process, to help with the design of it by using my experience to help create the best workflow and use of the space,” she said.
When first starting her job, Sherfield didn’t think much about whether she’d be there more than 20 years, “but it’s certainly been a blessing,” she said.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes and have enjoyed working with a lot of great people and great patrons.”
Kitty Smock came to work for the library just one month after Sherfield, shortly after the library expanded its service from city to countywide.
A lifelong lover of literature, Smock was interested in working part-time at the library after spending time as a stay-at-home mom.
With a literature degree and a background in manuscript editing, she said getting hired on as a library assistant felt like attaining her dream job.
“It was like coming to heaven,” said Smock, 66.
“I’ve always loved the library, because it’s a place where you can enjoy the best literature and find out anything you want. The people here will help you find information on anything you need to know,” she said.
Today, Smock writes news releases and both an online and print newsletter informing the public about the library’s various programs, from crafting to concerts to book clubs.
It’s a role she landed partly due to reading “Microsoft Office for Dummies” and “PCs for Dummies” shortly after starting her job at the library.
“I recommend the ‘Dummies’ books to anyone. You’ll learn all sorts of wonderful things,” she said.
Before getting hired, Smock assumed working as a librarian meant she’d get plenty of quiet moments to foster her love of reading in between checking out books for guests. “Never once has that happened,” she said with a laugh.
“There are so many things librarians are responsible for that people don’t see. We stay very busy,” she said.
Smock said she feels privileged to work for an organization that serves the community and makes it a better place. “I love coming to work every day.”
Terri Gordon, 56, feels the same way.
Gordon joined the staff as a children’s library assistant in January 1999, and pursued her librarian degree while working there.
She’s now the technical services librarian, working in cataloging, acquisitions, and selecting audio-visual resources like movies, music and audio books.
“I love being here. I really think it’s nice I’ve found something I’ve wanted to do for 20 years,” she said.
Working alongside colleagues with similar longevity has proven invaluable, Gordon said. “You accumulate quite a bit of institutional knowledge and history over the years.”
“You’re able to look at what you’ve tried in the past and figure out if you want to do it in the future. You get to know the community and learn what they want as their needs and interests evolve.”
Developing friendships with longtime co-workers is certainly a bonus, she said. “It’s hard when people leave.”
After working 23 years at the Greenfield library branch, Joy Summers worked her last day as a librarian on Dec. 31 last year.
Working with fellow long-term librarians made the job she loved even more enjoyable, she said. “It makes it easier because you start to know your fellow workers. You know who you can go to if you need help in different departments.”
Spending nearly a quarter-century in one workplace gave Summers some much needed stability, she said.
“With my first husband I had moved around 20 times in 20 years. When I took my job at the library, in my mind, I was laying down roots with no intention of moving again.”
Summers is slowly getting acclimated to retirement, but she often finds herself sneaking around the front desk when she visits the library, happy to lend a hand to her old friends in the place that still feels like a second home.
Library director Dave Gray feels blessed to have had so many employees stick around for so long.
Another employee, Linda Thakrar in technology services, will celebrate her 20th work anniversary next year.
“We have an incredible team and a dedicated staff,” said Gray, who will celebrate his 18th work anniversary at the library next month. His predecessor, Dianne Osborne, worked there as director for 24 years.
“To have the staff we’ve had for as long as we’ve had is a testament to the level of service we can provide the community,” said Gray. “To have them stick around for so long is wonderful.”
