Checking out

Dianne Cranshaw in a comfortable chair by the fire at the Wellington Library. A celebration of her career will be held at the Wellington United Church on January 26 at 2 p.m.

Wellington saying farewell to its last head librarian

There have been only three head librarians in the history of the Wellington Library. Dianne Cranshaw is the most recent. And its last. When she retired last month after 33 years in the Wellington Library, Dianne’s position retired with her. It is partly a function of budget considerations, and partly a realization that the County libraries are an integrated service. Knowledge, skills and resources flow easily among the six branches of the Prince Edward County Library.

Much of this progress is due to Dianne’s efforts.

She led the initiative to enable books and resources to move effectively between branches. Further, when the interlibrary loan services was first being contemplated, Dianne seized the opportunity to give readers, researchers and students in this community access to a far wider pool of resources.

To this day, all new books and all books arriving from other libraries come to Wellington first. They are processed and distributed from the village’s library for the entire County system.

“I was thrilled to get a call one day from the Toronto Reference library looking for a book that they could only find here,” recalls Dianne, beaming.

“LEAVING THE WAY I CAME IN”
It was a difficult decision for Dianne to back away from the Wellington Library. Difficult too for many village residents. Many of whom had grown accustomed to wandering in with a vague description and emerging with the book they were seeking.

Dianne began working at the library in 1980 part time.

“It was a perfect job,” said Dianne. “I was raising my children. It allowed me plenty of time to be home with them. And they could come to work with me if need be.”

She trained under Bessie Webster, who at the time, was the Wellington library.

“She knew everyone and every book in the library, and, where it was,” said Dianne.

In the intervening years, Dianne has watched the Wellington Library expand, evolve, adapt to changing lifestyles and become increasingly part of an integrated ecosystem rather than a standalone resource.

She oversaw the physical expansion of the library and the addition of an elevator, thanks largely to a bequest from Nora Cunningham.

Dianne says the time is right for her to back away—though she will continue to work part time—continuing to oversee the arrival and distribution of new and re-quested books.

“I still love it,” said Dianne. “But I want to leave before it becomes a drudge.”

She won’t miss the politics that sometimes intrudes upon the quiet world of the library. She also finds she is less eager than she once was to keep abreast of the dizzying changes in technology— which frequently required assisting despairing seniors navigate their strange new ebook or device.

When amalgamation was first floated in the late ‘90s, Dianne and Barb Sweet competed for the top job. Sweet got the job.

“I am glad she got the position,” said Cranshaw. “She had the vision to expand the role of the library and to adapt the programming and services to a changing environment. My strength has always been in getting things done. Ensuring the process and steps are followed. It has been a great partnership.”

Dianne is particularly fond of movie night at the library.

“I’m happy I won’t run it anymore. I’ll come just to watch.

It’s been a wonderful, wonderful job,” said Dianne.

A celebration of Dianne’s career and contribution to the life and vibrancy of Wellington is being held at the Wellington United Church hall on January 26 at 2 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Wellington Library.