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Library director reflects on new job

The Hampden Free Public Library staff, from left: Technical Services Clerk Cindy Rowley, Library Director Carol Scheier and Youth Services Librarian Christina Fairman. Reminder photo by Debbie Gardner
By Debbie Gardner

PRIME Editor



HAMPDEN Two months into her new job as director of the Hampden Free Public Library, Carol Scheier is still busy learning about her new home and the community it serves.

"I think one of my focuses has been on getting up to speed with what the [Hampden] library has to offer in in collections, and looking into what library patrons want and need," said this former Long Island children's librarian, who most recently served as a library supervisor for two branches of the Springfield Library.



Getting hooked up

With the library doors closed for a year due to budget cutbacks, Scheier said there's plenty of catching up to do.

She motioned to a computer station where Hampden's Youth Librarian, Christina Fairmont, was taking advantage of a few quiet moments to transfer more of the library's titles to the new C/WMARS cataloging system.

C/WMARS stands for Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing, a network of public, academic, school, regional, and special libraries boasting a combined collections of more than 6 million items.

"In a year, the [book cataloging] system changed," Scheier said., explaining that the Hampden Library's collection was catalogued using a system called Follett, which was replaced region-wide with the C/WMARS system.

And getting the library's collection transferred over to the C/WMARS system quickly is important, she said, because it increases the reciprocal borrowing opportunities with other libraries across the state.

"Our services are somewhat limited because we are still decertified, but we can get 95 percent of what people want," she said, adding that the staff has been recording patrons' favorite authors and book requests in a notebook at the circulation desk.

"Through interloan, we can get [copies of a book] sooner than if 20 people wanted the book at our library," she said.



Filling in the holes

But getting the cataloging system changed over is just one of the many tasks ahead of Scheier.

"We're still assessing the collection to make sure we are ordering what we need," Scheier said. "We're trying to get up to speed in terms of what we offer and in terms of materials and services."

She is especially concerned that Hampden's Library updates its information in the areas of math and sciences quickly.

"You never want to offer information that's out of date," she said.

And, Scheier said, the library is trying to reestablish its periodicals section.

"Those magazines were donated, and we will be looking for more donations from the community," she said, indicating the handful of fairly recent magazines on display.

Scheier said that Thornton W. Burgess Middle School will be running a magazine subscription sale as its fall fund-raiser, and, "people can actually order magazines as a gift for the library. That benefits the school as well as the library, and we're happy to have that."

The magazine subscription fund-raiser kicks off on Sept. 15 and runs through Sept. 25. Anyone interested in donating a subscription to the library can call the school at 566-8950 between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to place their order.



Grateful for staff

Scheier also said she felt fortunate to step into a job where her staff is so qualified, and so familiar with the library.

"Our number one strength is our people," she said. "It's a small staff, but very qualified."

Scheier praised the work of returning Youth Librarian Christina Fairman.

"She was very instrumental in setting up our homework center, which will reopen this fall," she said.

And she was equally grateful to have Library Clerk Cindy Rowley return to her position.

"She brings not only her knowledge of working in circulation services, she also knows the community," Scheier said.

"It's important to people who walk in the door to see a familiar face," she added.



Prepared for challenges

Scheier told Reminder Publications that her biggest challenge as director of the Hampden Library is offering as many services as possible, given the limitations of a three-person staff, and reduced hours.

"As a director I want to place the emphasis on quality, not quantity .we're very creative and we're going to do our best," she said.

She said the library is actively looking for donations of such things as magazines, books, and money.

"We look for that and we try to use [any donations] in the best possible way," she said.

She's also looking for input from the community on what types of programs to offer, and what to add to the collection.

"I work very closely with the staff in ascertaining what the public wants, whether it's leisure reading or information needs," she said, adding that she is considering starting an adult introductory computer program on Saturday mornings, if there is interest.

And, Scheier said, the library is also looking for volunteers to assist with tasks such as putting books away, and, in the future, run programs.

If residents can't make that kind of time commitment, but would still like to help the library, Scheier urges them to join the Friends of the Hampden Free Public Library.

"They kept the library going and they kept it on people's minds [during the closure]," she said. "They are a source of generosity and support."