By Matt Weinagrden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
For Donna Spickett, one chapter closes – as another one opens. The long-time employee has retired after spending 52 years with the Essex County Library.
“I started as a desk clerk at the LaSalle branch of the Essex County Library (ECL) in 1973. I never imagined that my career in the library would have lasted beyond my high school years!” said Spickett.
“When I finished high school I wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to go to further my education, so I continued to work at the LaSalle library until 1980 when an opening came up in Essex for a branch assistant.”
She worked at ECL part time for 10 years, was married in 1981 and had three children. She worked part time until 1999 – which gave Donna and her husband Matt time to raise their family.
“Our children loved their mom working at the library! I was always borrowing a variety of books for them to read,” she laughed. “My family supported me through my career because they knew I loved it!”
In 1990, when her mother (Jean Forbes) retired from the LaSalle Branch, she came back to LaSalle as the branch supervisor.
Over the years, Spickett shares she has seen many technical changes at the ECL.
“When I started there was a small binder to find the general location of books with the Dewey Decimal system,” she laughed. “We had a very small card catalogue with recipe cards in a file box which we also used. We checked out books with a stamp attached to a pencil and patrons had a card number which we wrote down on the cards that we removed from the books when they took them out.”
She says the stamp was changed nightly, so patrons could keep books out for three weeks. They would file the cards alphabetically and numerically at the end of the day and count them for circulation statistics.
“When computers came into the ECL system in the 90’s things started to move quickly with technology. There are now databases available for free to access newspapers and magazines from around the world, Libby to download e-books and audiobooks, storybooks in different languages (Lote), transparent language and many more,” she added
During the Covid shut down the library attached an RFID tag into each book, which meant that they could place a number of books onto a tablet to check them out instead of scanning each individual book.
RFID stands for “Short Frequency Identification” and these smart barcodes are attached to items in order to easily identify them by using radio frequency technology.
In more simple terms, radio waves transmit data from the tag to the reader that then transmits the information to a RFID computer program.
Spickett also acknowledges she has seen many major changes to library programming over time.
“Our programming consisted mainly of children’s programs to bring families into the library. We started out with story times and craft programs, which continued to grow with great attendance,” she shared.
Currently programming has expanded to all ages including adult crafts, cooking programs, book clubs, outreach and community partners.” she said.
Overtime she recalls many fond and favourite memories.
“My greatest memories are the families that come in today – that came in when they were children! They talk of the programs that went to when they were very young and they are now carrying on the library tradition with their families,” Spickett shares.
“The cards and kind words I have received over the last month show me that I have touched many people and they certainly have touched my life! The LaSalle Branch has moved six times since I started in the 70’s. With each move it was so nice to see more and more families coming into a newer location.”
Spickett says that working for the ECL has been a wonderfully fulfilling career.
“It is overwhelming when I think back to the beginning of my career!
Some of the patrons that I have met over the years have become great friends and I looked forward to seeing them in the library,” she said. “The staff that I have worked with will never be forgotten.
We have shared family stories and enjoyed each other’s company for many years!
I will miss seeing them on a daily basis.”
As one chapter closes another chapter begins.
“My husband and I hope to do some travelling in the fall and winter,” Spickett says.
“We moved last year, and I am looking forward to the nicer weather to work in the yard and garden.
I will have more time to spend with family and our six grandchildren…they are also looking forward to that.” she added.
“I was honoured to be a part of ECL and the LaSalle Community for over half a century!”
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