WINDHAM – After 23 years at the helm of the Windham Public Library, Inese Gruber will be stepping down at the end of May.

Gruber, who has spent her career as a librarian, started out as the library’s reference librarian and took over the role of director four years later. She has helped guide growth at the Windham library through the years to become an important cog of the community, providing services for children and adults.

Gruber has also seen the field of library science morph from specializing in books, newspapers and magazines to incorporating the stuff of the digital revolution such as providing e-readers and Internet access to patrons.

The Lakes Region Weekly recently interviewed Gruber about her tenure and changes in the library world, as well as her future plans for retirement.

Q: You’ve been at the Windham Public Library for more than two decades. How has the library experience changed in those years for patrons?

A: Today, the library experience offers so much more than when I first arrived. Libraries today still offer the traditional things you think of such as books, story times, reference services, research materials, and quiet spaces.

The Windham Public Library was quite “progressive” right from the time I first arrived. The library already at that time had a collection of movies on VHS, quite ahead of its time.

Over the years the library has added audiobooks, DVDs, music CDs, downloadable audios and e-books. Public access to information today via computers makes the library a hub for people to access the Internet. We also have people in every day with their own laptops to access our Wi-Fi. So I would say, in 23 years we have increased our services and our collection dramatically.

Q: How has the library experience changed for staff? Are there more challenges now with so many available platforms?

A: The challenge for the staff has over the years been to not only keep up with the new technologies but to be one step ahead of the curve so we can help patrons with their questions regarding computers, the Internet and the downloadables.

Q: How did you get interested in being a librarian?

A: I grew up in a city with a great library, New Rochelle, N.Y. I always knew that once I was of age to work after school that is where I wanted to work. So when I was 16 I got a job as a page shelving books after school. It seemed natural that in college I would seek a job in the library. You can see where this is going.

On making a career choice, I decided libraries were where I wanted to be. After graduating from Pace University in New York, I continued on for my master’s degree in library science at Queens College in New York.

In learning about libraries I became aware of and interested in what are known as “special libraries.” These are for example law libraries, medical libraries and business libraries. Being in New York City, most large organizations had business libraries. I worked in the libraries of two advertising agencies and one publishing house.

Moving to Maine I was fortunate to find a new librarian position in my new state. I have been here happily ever after. Whatever type of library you work in there is the basic job of providing access and helping people find the information they need.

Q: Are libraries more or less popular now with the advent of new technology?

A: I think libraries have gained a whole new community of users. There are folks who come in for the computer usage and there are new patrons who come for the multi-media. While here they see all the other things we have to offer and quite often get back into reading and using us for more than they thought they would.

Libraries also have grabbed teens more than in the past with the popularity of teen series and popular teen authors as well as the computers. The new downloadables offered free through the library have also brought in new users. I am sure the future will have libraries being in the forefront of new technology, offering new media and helping people to use it. On the other hand, I am not one who believes that hard-copy books are going away. Almost everyday someone comments on how there is nothing like holding and reading a “real” book.

Q: What do you plan to do in retirement?

A: My plans for retirement include something my husband, Frank, and I have wanted to do for a long time. We plan a cross-country road trip stopping wherever we want and not having to rush. We are looking forward to visiting national and state parks across the country. Having the time to visit with family and friends in different states will be fun. I love to walk and hike so I plan to do a lot more of that. I am planning to try new things. Most importantly, I will have more time to read.

Q: You’ve been a big part of Windham for 23 years. What will you miss most?

A: That is an easy question – the people. I have gotten to know so many nice people in the community who use the library on a regular basis and I will miss them. The library staff and fellow colleagues have been an important part of my life for 23 years. I will miss them all.

Inese Gruber, director of the Windham Public Library for the last two decades, is planning to retire in late May. Staff photo by John Balentine