The Outreach

Our patron interviews continue with a glimpse into the interesting life of Ruth Siegfried. Ruth was born in Westerville, Ohio and has lived here almost her entire life, except when she lived briefly in Marengo and Columbus. She grew up on a farm as the oldest of six children and loved to go to school. Educa-tion was a vacation for her from her normal housework! In fact, she loved education so much that she worked as a secretary for the Westerville City Schools administra-tive office for twenty years. When compared to her other roles as caregiver, childcare provider, selling Highlights Magazine, making donuts at Kroger, and creating files, working with the schools was her favorite. She met her husband, Harry, through a friend and fell in love with his sense of community and his companionship. He was a great friend and they were married for fifty years until he passed away about twenty years ago. They had three children and she currently has two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren. Ruth and Harry owned four different motor homes during their time to-gether and loved to travel. She has been to Canada, Mexico, France, Austra-lia, and England. If she could go anywhere in the world now, she would choose France or England. Some of her favorite travel moments include a tea dance in England and when Aborigines (both male and female) gave her brother kisses for his birthday. Her favorite pastimes include dancing, reading, golfing, and bowling. She and her husband both received many bowling trophies and her average bowling score was 160 to 200! She loves cherry pie, salads, bread pudding, and her favorite restaurant is Smokey Bones. Spring is her favorite season. The only reason Fall is not tied with Spring for her favorite is because it is fol-lowed by Winter. Ruth is most proud of raising her children and providing them with a good education. She is an inspirational woman and is still involved with her church and community. It was a pleasure to talk with her!

PATRON SPOTLIGHT - RUTH SIEGFRIED

July/August 2012

P a g e 2 T h e o u t r e a c h J u l y / A u g u s t

UPCOMING EVENTS • July 4th...Fourth of July Parade at 1:00pm in uptown

Westerville along State Street. Parade begins at Heatherdown Dr.. and ends around St. Pauls school.

• July 4th...Fourth of July fireworks at 10:00pm.

Do you have stories? Have any extra free time? Want to keep the art of letter writing alive? Join our Leaping Letters Program and exchange letters with children in an elementary school class! Share stories of what it was like when you grew up, where you went to school, and any other events you’ve experienced. Answer curious questions and ask your own. You may just make a new friend! No postage is required—We will deliver the letters for you. Please contact the Outreach Department as soon as possible if you’re are interested. ~Marie Corbitt 614-259-5034

P a g e 3 T h e o u t r e a c h J u l y / A u g u s t

Mary Ann Huster: History of Westerville Public Library Outreach by Ellyn Dinning

When I began to work for the Westerville Public Library in 1993 in the Circulation Department, the assistant manager was Mary Ann Huster. What I didn’t realize was that she was also the head of the Outreach Department. I would later figure that out. She did that job part-time as well as work in Circulation. There was another full-timer working with her and a part-timer. Mary Ann started to work at the library in May of 1977. Outreach began in the early 80’s (Mary Ann wasn’t quite sure of the exact year). She was asked by Jane Bradford, the Director of the library, to do it with a reference librarian, Susan Morse. Mary Ann said at that time, they delivered to Edgewood Nursing Home, Manor Care, Columbus Colony Apartments and the nursing home, and Sugar Grove Apartments. They were only in contact with the Activity Directors for each place and would bring a variety of books. Alice Nodes, another librarian, took over when Susan Morse left the library. By this time, Friendship Village, Harris House and the Village at Westerville Apartments and nursing home were added. They started to call the people that they could and brought them the books that they de-sired. Mary Ann was happy to hear that we still do some things the way she used to, like setting out books at the Village at Westerville on the pool table and setting out books in the Library of Friendship Village. They also went to a few patrons in their homes. Mary Ann couldn’t remember ex-actly how many – it wasn’t the number we do now! When Alice Nodes left, Mary Ann was working with Lucy Curran and Janet Brin-son (who still works at WPL!). She and Lucy would take turns using their cars for de-liveries. They packed the books in paper bags – just like we did until a year ago, and transported them in the kind of shopping carts that you pull along. Their workspace was in the circulation work room, piling books on their desks and any empty work space they could fine. In the late 80’s they got a mini van to transport the books. They had volunteers to help – Jim Hickman and a Library Board member, Bar-bara Bulthaup. Mary Ann said that her favorite part of working in Outreach was getting to know the patrons. I watched her face change as she talked about one particular couple that they delivered to. After the woman’s husband died, they got closer to her, even getting to know the rest of the family. I could see how much that experience meant to her. We all feel the same way – the patrons are the best part of the job. Maybe some of you remember Mary Ann. She retired from the library in October, 1998 and has been keeping busy.

P a g e 4 STAFF PICKS! Julie Beginner’s Goodbye

By Anne Tyler This entertaining new novel tells the story of middle-aged Aaron who is

crippled by the sudden death of his wife but is slowly restored by her

frequent reappearances.

The Big Year (2011, PG)

Ellyn The Limpopo Academy

of Private Detection By Alexander McCall Smith

Precious is back and her plate is full! And on top of it all,

Clovis Anderson, author of the prized Detection Manual has

arrived, right in Botswana!

Best in Show (2001, PG-13)

Marie Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye

By Victoria Laurie

Abby C. is feeling bored in her line of work as a P.I. (psychic intuitive). But when one of her clients turn up dead, she gets more than what she bargained

for.

Tangled (2011, G)

Heather

The Real Elizabeth By Andrew Burr

A surprising and candid biography of the great Queen Elizabeth II.

Snowflower and the Secret Fan

(2011, PG-13)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Winners of the annual Hunger Games Katniss and Peeta must now deal

with life as victors. But, because they won under unprecedented circum-stances, they unknowingly become faces of an impending rebellion.

The Darkest Hour (2011, PG-13)

Thomas