Beloved Bonnyville librarian Ina Smith is closing the book on her time at the local library.
After stepping into the role at the Bonnyville Municipal Library in 2005, Smith came to the difficult decision to retire. Her last day among the book shelves will be Oct. 15.
”I’m leaving a job that I really kind of poured my heart and soul into, and I’ve got a great staff. It’s going to be really hard. It’s going to be really hard to walk in there, and not walk into my office,” she expressed. “Yet, in some ways, I think I’m just ready to move onto the next phase of my life.”
Smith is looking forward to retirement to spend time with her family, travelling to places like Croatia and Australia, embracing her love of photography, and reading books.
Originally from southern Saskatchewan, Smith’s story started in Bonnyville in 1977. She later became a teacher at Dr. Bernard Brosseau School, and was there when the school first opened their doors.
After six years as a teacher, she decided to take a chance and make a career change, becoming a part-owner of the local Home Hardware.
”It was a big learning curve. Every change has been a big learning curve, but every little thing you’ve done helps you in the next phase of whatever you’re going to do,” she said, adding the customer service and management skills she developed at Home Hardware assisted her at the library.
When she reached a crossroads in her life, Smith decided she needed another change. She headed back to school at the University of Alberta to achieve her Masters of Library and Information Studies.
”It was something that always interested me. I think because I’ve always been a reader, and even back before I became a teacher, it was something that I considered,” she explained.
While working in Cold Lake for the Community Learning Council, Smith heard about the librarian position opening up. Ready to follow her dreams, she applied for the job and has been there ever since.
In her new capacity, Smith had big plans to bring the Bonnyville library into the 21st century, starting with making it more accessible online.
”I wanted us to have our own website, which seems crazy. This was 2005, we just had a page on the Town of Bonnyville’s (website) that we couldn’t do anything with. That was actually the first thing I did, was make a website.”
Programming was another priority. Specifically to bring children to the library, and offering programs such as Rhyme Time and Story Time.
Along with attracting future patrons, establishing a love for books at a young age and helping develop literacy were important goals for Smith.
Updating the library in 2008 was also at the top of her list of projects to accomplish.
”When they built the library, they didn’t have any money to really get new shelving. They had a real mixture of shelves. There was wood, metal, high, and low shelves. It was just a real mishmash of shelving,” she recalled.
Even though she won’t be able to be a part of expanding the library as she hoped, Smith feels like she’s “accomplished quite a bit” in her role.
Linda Smiley, librarian assistant, agreed.
”She’s one of those people who always need new things to do, and new goals to reach.”
Smiley continued, “I’m going to miss working with a very wonderful person. Not only that, this wasn’t just a job to her, she made it more than just a job, she cared about it and the place she worked in. She cared about what she was doing, and she cared about the people and the community. Everything was about how she could add to it, how she could enhance it, and how she wanted it better.”
Smith is on the hiring committee to help hire her replacement, and wants to find someone with “fresh eyes” to make the library even better.
”I think it’s good to have somebody new come in, they have new ideas, and I think I’d like to see somebody who has quite a lot of technology experience, because that’s just where it’s at now.”
While her favourite part of the library is being surrounded by books, she’s going to miss the patrons the most.
Smith offered her thanks to all the people who helped out along the way, and to the municipalities for their support.
”I think you should always hope you leave a place better than when you came, and I think that I have.”
