Kay's retirement and first few months of freedom
I started volunteering once a week at the Eufaula Memorial Library in 1994 processing new books as they came in. Then one of the clerks retired and the manager, Shirley Thomas, asked me to apply and I got the position May 1, 1995. We still had the old fashioned card catalog and signing a card to check out the books with the date of return stamped on it.
I started volunteering once a week at the Eufaula Memorial Library in 1994 processing new books as they came in. Then one of the clerks retired and the manager, Shirley Thomas, asked me to apply and I got the position May 1, 1995. We still had the old fashioned card catalog and signing a card to check out the books with the date of return stamped on it.
Later that year the whole library
system came to the computer age. I had no background whatsoever in
computers and actually never seen one before. All the library staff
was trained, of course, and I found it very exciting.
Since we were online through our main
branch in Muskogee our Friends of the Library decided to be an
internet provider for the city. Again I was excited to be on the
ground floor of this new stuff. Boy did I learn a lot (and have since
forgotten it). John Harkey was my trainer in setting up computers
(dos program) for public use as well as monitoring the customers for
the internet. (Of course I do not remember any of the dos programming
which is just fine since we aren't using it anymore.)
Besides checking books out and in I did
a lot of other stuff, mostly washing and putting books on the shelves
at the beginning. As I grew in the library field I was put to use in
doing story time once a week for preschool, which became craft time
with a story. We had three buses of children (15 each) that I had to
prepare all the components of the craft to be made. There were three
'teachers' that came with the kids. I was so glad when Mary Turnbull
started to work and took over the kids programs and the summer
reading program..
Also during this time I learned to do
inter-library loans to acquire books people wanted that our library
system did not have. This I loved doing. It was fun doing this
'detective' work, and watching the person's face when they picked it
up was a joy to see. Then sending them back to where they came from.
When one of the other clerks, Vivian
Knight, retired I got the job of doing the book discussions. I had to
pick out a prepared program offered by the Oklahoma Department of
Libraries, call a presenter, acquire the books they provided and
prepare them, call those who wanted to participate to let them know
the book was ready to pick up, get the paper work to the presenter
for them to be recompensed for the program giving
them directions to the library, and provide refreshments at the time
of the program. Then doing an assessment to be sent back to ODL. About
ten years ago we quit doing that program and I would just look for
books that our group would read and order them. I would research for
a bio of the author and later on we even did you tube videos of an
author interview. I started having the group take turns providing the
refreshments. They all seemed to enjoy this just as much and for me
it was a lot less work.
Then Mary Turnbull retired
because of health issues and genealogy was turned over to me. Mary
knew a whole lot of local history and she had started the group that
met once a month to share what they were searching for and tips on
researching. She also provide presenters to come share information
and a lot of websites for research. I, of course, had no background
on genealogy and at that time no desire for it because I felt pretty
busy as it was. Well...I got hooked as some of you may know. When I
took over I went workshops that the state library offered every time
I could. Got lots of help from them. The group that were meeting at
the library, however, were more interested in searching beyond our
little community, so I got some other presenters coming in for out of
state research on the internet. Mary wasn't too computer savvy and was
more into just local stuff so I branched out because in learning, I,
of course, used my own family to use those resource links on the
internet.
Well, time moves on and
Margaret Collins, branch manager is thinking of retirement and I told
her I was too. I told her that we better mot retire at the same time
and told her she could go first and I'd stay to help the new manager acclimate to the library. So that is what happened.
The new manager, Peggy
Black, was a public school librarian with no previous experience with
a public library so she had some things to learn. She brought in some
changes right off the bat. I like change but some people do not. I
like her and got along well with her. She asked all of us to write
down what our jobs were that weren't in the job description. Then
about a month before I left she asked me to write down other things
that I do. Well, I thought about it and didn't. I thought I can't
write any of it down because I am one that if I see something that
needs to be done I do it and go on. No routine to that kind of
stuff....Later I found that the staff was realizing the extent of
what I did and now trying to fill in the blanks, so to speak, and not
enjoying it very much.
I retired March 1, 2015 and
am enjoying it very much. I joined the ladies organization called
Friendly Lake Eufaula Area Supporters (FLEAS) who meet on the fourth
Tuesday each month. (I used to be a member back in the early nineties
when my mother-in-law, Letha Drabek, was the president) They have a
group of Canasta players that meet every Tuesday to play from as
early as 9 to as late as 4. They would like me to be a permanent
player but I am not ready for that so I substitute for them and thoroughly enjoy it, so much fun and laughter.
I am a lifetime member of
the Friends of the Eufaula Memorial Library so I attend their
luncheons on the third Wednesday of the month September to May and
participate in fund raisers. They wanted me to be an officer and I
told them not this year...
I am a member of a women's
group called P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization). I had
gotten three scholarships from them when I was taking my Associate
Degree in Library Science and needed to 'pay back' buy helping them
raise more money to help other women in continuing education. They
also give scholarships to seniors going into college.
I go to the First United
Methodist Church in Checotah. They have an 8:30 service that I attend
and then Bible class at 9:30. I really enjoy being a member of this
church. I have not gotten involved with any of the outreach programs
yet but may this next year.
I still love reading and am
reading three books right now. I will be going to Stugis, South
Dakota, leaving on July 29th and coming back August 7,
2015. With my genealogy I am thinking some trips to verify
information or to acquire more, so maybe Tennessee and Indiana. I
would like to do some other trips but do not know when or where
yet...
As to a dwelling place to
live...Your guess is as good as mine....
Until later.
Love to you all
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