BUCYRUS — For years, Brenda Crider has been one of the most familiar faces at the Bucyrus Public Library, but in December, she will retire and move to the next chapter of her life.
Crider started her career at the library in 1987.
“I was hired as a page,” Crider said. “I put the books away. That was back when libraries had money to hire pages and it was usually high school kids or young adults.”
Crider was one of the young adults to work as page, moving into the position after she had her first child and was looking for a part-time position.
“I had also worked at the Wynford High School library and then the Alden Library at Ohio University while I was in college,” Crider said.
Crider majored in public relations with minors in English and advertising.
“I was one credit short of a double major, but I was done with college at that point,” Crider said with a laugh.
Crider’s original goal was to become a cruise ship director.
“Public relations was the closest program that had so I took it,” she said. “I met my husband before I graduated so I ended up moving back to Crawford County.”
In 1989, Cider assisted with technical services and processing at the library and in 1991, took on the newly created role of community relations coordinator.
“I used my marketing skills, wrote articles, created programming applied for grants,” Crider said.
In 2014, Crider became assistant director of the library. She has also served as interim director during the searches to replace past directors James Wilkins and Matthew Ross.
Crider was named director of the library by the Board of Trustees in November 2014.
“I promised them five years and fulfilled that promise,” said Crider, who will retire on Dec. 1.
Crider said libraries need to be on the cutting edge as technology advances.
“I would like to see someone younger take over my position,” she said.
The board currently is taking resumes for the director position.
“I want to have some time with the new person, so I can do some training before I leave,” Crider said.
Crider, her assistant director Rebecca Wilden, and the other 13 other employees of the library will be undergoing extensive training to become part of the Consortium of Ohio Libraries.
“It will be great for everyone. People can borrow books from any of the 12 libraries in Central Ohio that are part of it. That means people will be able to get their items sooner,” Crider said. “There will be a quicker turnaround time.”
The library will be closed March 27-29 for the training.
“We will be open on Saturday, March 30, so if people have items that need to be returned, they can do it that day,” Crider said.
The new circulation system will go live in May.
For more information about the director’s position and other information, visit the library’s website or the library’s Facebook page.