Barrhead Library director announces retirement

BARRHEAD – Barrhead Library director Elaine Dickie has announced her retirement after 23 years in her role.

The Library Board met on Sept. 17 and received Dickie's notice of intention to retire effective Dec. 31.

Jane Kusal, Library Board chair, read her letter to the board.

“It has been my honour and privilege to serve the library board and the community of Barrhead since 2001,” Dickie wrote.

Library board members were saddened by the news and thanked Dickie for her service.

“I move to accept the resignation of Elaine Dickie with much regret,” stated Rod Klumph, Town of Barrhead councillor.

Dickie remarked that she will miss the people the most, both staff and library visitors.

She shared that her proudest achievement was the way the library handled the COVID pandemic. The library was only closed for three days before Dickie came up with the idea of door drop-off services. Library members and teachers could place an order, and the library staff would meet them for door pick-ups.

Many other businesses adopted this idea after the library had it in place.

The library continued to support the community throughout the lockdowns.

Dickie commented how so much has changed and the library’s strategies have changed along with the community, and its needs.

She recalled how the library offered multiple courses in teaching people how to use computers as many community members took on the challenge to learn the new technology.

“I’m proud of all candidates’ forums that we participated in every time there is an election of some kind and we're looking forward to participating in more,” said Dickie.

“We have lots of people that come into use a computer to be able to print things off, to download things. Readers come and borrow magazines because they are not fun to read online,” Dickie added.

“We have a healthy collection of magazines, and some people order a subscription and then they bring us their magazines for our sharing area.”

Dickie said that the one thing she would have liked to implement was a toy lending library, but the building lacks the storage and the sanitization equipment that would be needed.

The library does offer a lending program of different non-book items from walking poles to projectors for special events.

Their technology section is looking to replace some of the gaming controllers and are looking for donations from anyone who has controllers collecting dust.

Dickie shared a story of coming in two days before her official start date in 2001 to get some advance reading resources.

A previously employed library staff member told her that the library would suck the life out of her, and it was a black hole.

Dickie questioned her decision to accept the job for a moment, but her positivity and determination led her to embrace the leadership role for the library.

She has agreed she will stay on until a replacement for her position is found.

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