Nathan Jeffers/photo
Pictured (from left) are Library Clerks Sarah Gibbs, Marian Batey, and April Lloyd.
NEW HAVEN — While many stories lie on the shelves of Mason County Libraries, there’s another ongoing story at the New Haven branch.
This one is of longtime library clerk Marian Batey, who is celebrating her 90th birthday today, April 16. According to Batey, she started working with the New Haven Library when it started in 1948, making 2013 her 65th year of service.
In honor of her years of service, there will be an open house from 1-3 p.m., on Wednesday, April 17, at the New Haven Library. In addition to the open house which is open to the public, the Town of New Haven has declared Wednesday, April 17 as Marian Batey Day.
“She’s been an icon here at the library,” said Director Pam Thompson. “She’s been dedicated.”
Batey spoke with the Point Pleasant Register on some of the changes she’s seen at the New Haven Library over the years, as well as the location of the library itself. Batey described several nearby buildings where the library used to be, ending with a total of five different locations and she had worked at them all. Batey recalled when the library started they received many books from other libraries in Ohio, as well as remembering a loss of several books in a fire which took place many years ago.
Another aspect of the library Batey saw was the addition of computers. Batey said before the use of this technology, it took much longer to find a book in the library. Batey also recalled when children and whole classes would often stop in the library for their school work, which doesn’t happen as often now since the schools themselves have libraries.
Along with many library employees, it comes as no surprise that Batey loves books. Batey said she took after her grandmother who loved to read and she does not restrict herself to a certain genre, saying she loves to read anything. Also when asked if she had a favorite memory from her years at the library, she couldn’t pick just one.
“They’re all good memories,” Batey said. “I enjoy working at the library.”
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