GIRARD — While a celebration was originally going to take place this fall to mark the 100th anniversary of the Girard Free Library, library officials have marked the special occasion the best they can this year with plans for recognizing the milestone in 2021.

Rose Ann Lubert, library director, said it was in May 1920 that the library was established at a building on Market Street.

Plans were first to mark the anniversary in the spring, but because of the coronavirus pandemic the event was moved to October, which also did not happem.

“At the original library, all the books were donated. The library then moved in the 1940s to the front of what is the original city hall building where the library stayed to the early 1970s,” Lubert said.

She said the current location at 105 E. Prospect St. opened in 1972 and has seen additions, including a major project in 1998 with a new reference area and non-fiction areas and offices.

Lubert said library officials hope to be able to mark the 100 years in 2021. Plans will be to have an open house.

“We may be 101 or 102 when we finally get to celebrate this,” she joked.

For the anniversary there is a display of photos, newspaper articles and other memorabilia in a display case. In March, the library was forced to close and then reopened in June after adding glass enclosures at the circulation desk and other areas to make the staff feel safe. The library hours also were changed to Monday to Friday only, with hopes to be open on Saturday at some point in 2021.

Lubert said the success of the library was summed up by a friend of hers and former teacher: “The Girard Library is the jewel of the community.”

“The citizens of Girard have always been proud of this library. We are more than just books. There is a variety of technology and computer equipment. We have hot spots to be circulated and checked out for those who do not have wi-fi,” she said.

Lubert said while more online materials are available, she said she can’t imagine a library without books.

“There are so many people who come to the library because they want to be able to hold a book. Those are the people who come every two weeks to check out books, which they appreciate being able to do,” she said.

Lubert said people appreciate the variety of programs offered by the library especially the grandparents who bring their grandchildren. She said most programs had to be canceled this year, including an annual visit from Santa Claus.

INDEPENDENT

The Girard Free Library is an independent library, as are libraries in Niles and Hubbard, and receives funds from a continuous operating levy voters approved in 2010.

“When it passed we received support from every precinct in the city, people in McDonald, Liberty and Weathersfield who come here told us they wish they could have voted on it,” Lubert said.

She has served 20 years as director, and noted others who have served include Kathy Sauline, Kathy Devine and Diane Fritz.

In the past 20 years, the biggest change has been the reference department growing with more online materials, she noted.

Lubert said people remember such events as the “Dinner in the Stacks” program held with a meal at the library. “That was always a big success and always a nice fundraiser,” she said.

Over the years the library has received help from a Friends of the Library group before the levy was passed, with purchase of computers and help with library maintenance.

Heather Walker, reference librarian with the library for 31 years, said the biggest change has been with technology with people staying longer at the library rather than just coming in to get a book.

“I was here when we had the card catalog. We had to pull out cards to find books. The library had many additions in the 1990s which made the library so much bigger,” she said.

LOCAL USE

Lubert said the reference staff loves it when local teachers have their students come to the library and use reference books.

“We have teachers from Girard and Ursuline who have their students come to the library to find reference materials,'” she said.

Elaine Houck, reference librarian and a member of the Friends group, said she always enjoyed helping with fundraising and being able to contribute to the library in some way.

“People from other communities are shocked at how many materials we have here and how big the library is. People are so surprised when they come from other places. We have so many resources here that so many people do not even know about,” Walker said.

Maria Selak, children’s librarian, said she has always enjoyed her job and found it so challenging this year with no story times, programs and other events for children in person.

“The children love to come here to read to the dogs or bunnies. They miss that,” she said.

Selak began as a page at the library and then after college started in the 1970s when the library was at the city building

“It is wonderful to be able to have a library like this for the size of the community. I agree that it is the jewel of the community,” Selak said.

Enjoying time in the children’s department was Aaden Baker, 6, of Girard.

“I like animal books,” he said — which he was looking for. He also comes to the library to work on school assignments.