Library Love
We recently asked our patrons and staff to share some of their favorite memories or what they love about the Piqua Public Library. We received some wonderful responses that we’d like to share with you.
Jan P. said, “The building is beautiful, and the books are a wonderful escape... but the staff bring it all to life and are full of love! They are all super!!!” ?
One of our staff at the Circulation Desk, Julie V. shared these memories, “Like many people here in Piqua, I grew up at the Flesh Public Library. I attended storytimes, Summer Reading Club and read as much as possible. Access to that lovely building helped make me a lifelong reader. More importantly, even than that, though, is a bit of sage advice I received from Wally White, the former director of the Library. As I was finishing my degrees at Edison, Mr. White suggested that I consider library work as a career. I investigated and learned that among the professions, librarians report the highest job satisfaction. After this, I completed a couple of Bachelor’s degrees and received my Master’s degree in Library Science. Thanks to Wally White and the wonderful staff at the Library, I just retired from a happy and successful 23-year career as a librarian and manager for three library systems in Florida. I am happy to be employed at the Piqua Public Library to continue the work I love.
Patrons Wally H., Sherry B., and Erika G. all said they love the friendly people who work at the Library.
One of our Shelvers, Juanita V., shared this: “When I was a young girl, elementary and junior high, I spent a lot of time reading books. The young people in my books had the ideal life, I thought, so I got lost in books. I have been an avid reader my whole life. I started taking my children to the Library as toddlers. Vi Das led storytime then. Later, when my grandchildren began to visit the Library, Barb Sanderson led storytime. All of these young people have had a spectacular vocabulary from an early age. I only wish there were more hours in the day so I could read more. We are blessed with such a beautiful historic building and an outstanding staff.”
The Hayner Happenings account on Instagram shared love for our Local History Department.
Nicole L. said, “ ? I miss that Library [Flesh Public Library]! I loved going down into the basement and exploring—lots of great memories.
Ann F. said, “So excited to see this article - thank you! I still have my library card!” ❤️
Our Library Secretary, Beth H., shared this memory with us: “I have many great memories from working at the Library since 1997. One of my favorites is when I was working at the Information and Reference Desk. A patron asked me to teach him how to do email. I had been very friendly and joked around with this older man and his wife but was hesitant because I had to speak loudly so the man could hear what I was saying. I said I would teach him, but it would be better if he got a hearing aid first, and then we wouldn’t need to talk so loud. He questioned whether I was serious or kidding, and I said I was serious. He admitted that his wife also thought he needed one, but he didn’t believe her. About 30 minutes later, I received a phone call from his wife, which started with “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” He told her what I said on their way home and agreed to get his hearing tested. I later taught him how to email and remained friends until both passed away several years later.”
Jenna B. “I loved the children’s reading club in the summers and how it was always decorated and fun!”
Trisha E. said, “I love the children’s department! The best part is that Miss. Nancy was one of the librarians during my childhood, and now my daughter gets to enjoy her storytelling too!”
One of our staff at the Information and Reference Desk, Donna W., told us this: “My favorite memory as a mom is visiting the Children’s Department. As an employee, I love helping our patrons and learning from them. I love their stories and gratitude. I love that my children came to the Library over 40 years ago. We always enjoyed not only the activities but especially the welcoming spirits of our librarians. That holds true today as our patrons come back for books and community.”
Amanda Y. shared this memory: “So many great memories! As a child, the best part was walking into the Reading Club every summer to see its transformation to the year’s theme. And who could ever forget the bubbler drinking fountain! And the best books were in that little room next to it. Working there as a young adult, I learned so much from the library staff. Such a wonderful group of people!” ?
Our Circulation Coordinator, Angie W., shared this memory with us: “When I was a little girl, my teacher told my mom to take me to the Library. It seemed that I was bored with the Dick and Jane books at school. I can still remember that first trip to the Flesh Public Library. I can tell you the exact shelf in the children’s department where I discovered a series of books that changed my attitude towards books forever. They were written by Marilyn O’lear Helmrath and Janet La Spiza Bartlett, illustrated by Marilue Johnson. The series of books was about a little bear named Bobby. Some of the titles were Bobby Bear in the Spring, Bobby Bear Finds Maple Sugar, and many more books about wonderful adventures, and friends, of this delightful little bear. The pages were glossy, the words rhymed, and the illustrations were so cute and charming. I couldn’t wait to get back to the Library to pick up some more. I would have never guessed that that little girl would one day grow up and get to work in that marvelous place, surrounded by so many books. Now I work at an even bigger library surrounded by even more books. My coworkers are like family to me, and our regular patrons are like my friends. I can truly say that those books at that Library changed my life forever, and I am so very grateful.”
Ann Elaine N. said, “A library is just a building with books, computers, etc. It is a dedicated staff, led by a director with a love of books, that makes a library meaningful to the community.”
One of our staff at the Circulation Desk, Jordyne S., told us: “One of my favorite memories is when the Library moved buildings. My class took a school trip to get a tour around the new building. I remember thinking the place looked so cool, and the kids would share ghost stories about the fireplace and the mirror. I had no idea I’d be working at that very building when I grew up.”
Our Technical Services Assistant, Michele K., shared this memory: “The summer of 2011, Beth and I showed Alfred Hitchcock movies on Thursday afternoons. A couple from Indiana came to visit the Library. They had spent their honeymoon at the hotel many years ago. They were excited to get to visit the lovely Library and watch an Alfred Hitchcock movie and eat popcorn to celebrate their anniversary.”
Amy W. said, “When I was a kid, the Children’s Department used to have activity bags to take home and amazing puppet shows. You could always count on Miss Nancy to help you find just the right book. Now she is helping my kids.”
Kathy D. shared, “Taking mom’s grandchildren downstairs to visit. Or going up to the top floor to study when I was home from college.” ?
Jenni B. shared, “I loved how the children’s department was transformed each summer for the reading program. It was my favorite part of summer vacation. I’d get so excited when the librarians would visit our school to announce the theme, then count down the days until we could finally visit the Library to see the decorations. Joyce, Nancy, and all of the librarians always did such an amazing job creating new worlds in that little children’s department. Those are precious memories now, and I can’t thank them enough for their love and dedication to our community.” ❤️
Sheri B. told us, “Bringing my children, then grandchildren, to anything in the two children departments; storytimes, puppet shows, playing as well as picking out books.”
Danielle F. recounted, “I tried to check out a book on rollerblades at the old library... they held it for me at the desk while I ran home to get real shoes.” When asked how she managed to get down the stairs in rollerblades, she replied, “Very carefully, but I still nearly gave the ladies downstairs a heart attack!”
Our Information and Reference Coordinator, John P., told us: “My favorite things about the Library include the staff and patrons. They are great. I’ve been in the people business for years, and there is no better place to meet, greet and help patrons from all walks of life than the Piqua Public Library. Of course, the building is art personified, steeped in history with many stories to share. Working at the Piqua Library is like being on a perpetual treasure hunt. You never know what will pop up! For example, I was rearranging the shelves in Non-fiction the other day and found books titled “Do Penguins Have Knees” and “We Are Never Meeting In Real Life.” Two great titles among the thousands available at your Piqua Public Library.”
Our Marketing Coordinator, Courtney D., shared these memories: “My mom read to me before I was a year old. She also took my sister and me to the Library so often that I feel like I’ve been a patron my whole life. My sister and I both love to read, and we owe a lot of that to our Library. Growing up, I loved visiting the Library to check out books and movies, especially during the summer. The decorations in the Children’s Department were fantastic each year, and it was so exciting to find out the theme for the summer. As I got older, the Library was a great resource for school projects and books to borrow from my favorite authors. I was a college student when the Library moved into the Fort Piqua Plaza. I’m incredibly proud of how our community came together to restore this incredible building. We had $4 million in private donations, which is unheard of in a town of our size. I’m grateful to work at the Piqua Public Library. I’m able to connect with our patrons through my love of reading, gardening, and art. The Library is the perfect place to spend time if you’re interested in a lot of different things, or if you just want to spend some time reading in a historic building.”
