Syracuse Library Director To Retire
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE - Rosalyn Jones is close to shelving her last periodical at the Syracuse Public Library after 40 years as library director.
Jones announced a retirement date of early 2006. She plans to assist the new director, whoever that may be.
"Hopefully, I'll be training someone for a couple of months," she said. "So, January or February, some time around then."
Jones has been the director longer than anyone else in the library's 85-year history. She ushered out the paper-based card catalog system and brought in computers and the data-based catalog.
Syracuse has had a circulating library since 1908. It was in the southeast basement room of the consolidated school building, across the street from the present library at 115 E. Main St.
In 1916, the Carnegie Corp. offered grants of $10,000 to communities across the country interested in creating public libraries.
The library board, consisting of Syracuse and Turkey Creek Township residents, applied for the grant, purchased a lot and raised $1,000 to comply with grant requirements.
The new 4,100-square-foot library was dedicated in spring 1921. In 1956, a children's room was built in the basement along with a new front entrance and office space.
In 1990, Jones oversaw a remodeling project that more than doubled floor space, while keeping faithful to the 1920s-era architectural style with its brick facade, woodwork, tall windows and high ceilings.
"The children's area used to be like a dungeon, it was so dark down there," she said. The current children's room has a lot of light and room for expansion."
When Jones began work 40 years ago, there were two full-time people, two pages and a janitor. Now the staff numbers 15 with Gisela Vore as the children's librarian and Becky Brower as the young adult/teen librarian.
Jones came from the small town of Rolling Prairie in LaPorte County. The town, halfway between South Bend and Michigan City, had a population of 600 with a small branch library.
"My mother would check out books by the armload and made sure we had plenty of books at home," she said. "So I got started early with the habit of reading."
She likes the mystery authors, naming the grand dame of mystery Agatha Christie and author Joan Medlicott as favorites.
The library has more than 60,000 books, as well as videos, recorded books and musical compact discs.
The reference room has many books about the lake area, including Eli Lilly's "Early Wawasee Days" and Scott Edgell's companion book, "Sketches of Lake Wawasee."
Years ago, she and husband Robert "Bob" Jones, had the foresight to buy property around Lake Wawasee.
"I began work after graduating from college," the Indiana University alumnus said. "I also had to get my library science certification for this sized library at IUSB."
Bob retired from Western Michigan (Kalamazoo) University last year.
Jones paints in her spare time. She plans to volunteer when she retires and intends to keep up with her reading by visiting the library often. [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE - Rosalyn Jones is close to shelving her last periodical at the Syracuse Public Library after 40 years as library director.
Jones announced a retirement date of early 2006. She plans to assist the new director, whoever that may be.
"Hopefully, I'll be training someone for a couple of months," she said. "So, January or February, some time around then."
Jones has been the director longer than anyone else in the library's 85-year history. She ushered out the paper-based card catalog system and brought in computers and the data-based catalog.
Syracuse has had a circulating library since 1908. It was in the southeast basement room of the consolidated school building, across the street from the present library at 115 E. Main St.
In 1916, the Carnegie Corp. offered grants of $10,000 to communities across the country interested in creating public libraries.
The library board, consisting of Syracuse and Turkey Creek Township residents, applied for the grant, purchased a lot and raised $1,000 to comply with grant requirements.
The new 4,100-square-foot library was dedicated in spring 1921. In 1956, a children's room was built in the basement along with a new front entrance and office space.
In 1990, Jones oversaw a remodeling project that more than doubled floor space, while keeping faithful to the 1920s-era architectural style with its brick facade, woodwork, tall windows and high ceilings.
"The children's area used to be like a dungeon, it was so dark down there," she said. The current children's room has a lot of light and room for expansion."
When Jones began work 40 years ago, there were two full-time people, two pages and a janitor. Now the staff numbers 15 with Gisela Vore as the children's librarian and Becky Brower as the young adult/teen librarian.
Jones came from the small town of Rolling Prairie in LaPorte County. The town, halfway between South Bend and Michigan City, had a population of 600 with a small branch library.
"My mother would check out books by the armload and made sure we had plenty of books at home," she said. "So I got started early with the habit of reading."
She likes the mystery authors, naming the grand dame of mystery Agatha Christie and author Joan Medlicott as favorites.
The library has more than 60,000 books, as well as videos, recorded books and musical compact discs.
The reference room has many books about the lake area, including Eli Lilly's "Early Wawasee Days" and Scott Edgell's companion book, "Sketches of Lake Wawasee."
Years ago, she and husband Robert "Bob" Jones, had the foresight to buy property around Lake Wawasee.
"I began work after graduating from college," the Indiana University alumnus said. "I also had to get my library science certification for this sized library at IUSB."
Bob retired from Western Michigan (Kalamazoo) University last year.
Jones paints in her spare time. She plans to volunteer when she retires and intends to keep up with her reading by visiting the library often. [[In-content Ad]]