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MONDAY February 23, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 15, 2003 New manager settling in By Amanda Bolsinger For the Tidings Moving boxes are stacked around the office, the walls are mostly blank, the desk still organized and uncluttered. Anne Billeter is still moving into her new office and new job at the Ashland Public Library. Billeter is the new South Regional Library manager. While new to the job as regional manager, Billeter has been with the Jackson County Library system for almost 19 years. Before her time in Jackson County she has worked in different libraries in different jobs since 1969. "I decided that I wanted to be a librarian in the 8th grade," says Billeter. "I did a project on a profession, researched and liked librarians and I have never changed my mind." Billeter graduated from the University of Southern California with a master's degree in library sciences. She continued her education over the years, earning a Ph.D. "Being a librarian is both an art and a science," says Billeter. Billeter's education and training is put to good use. Her full title is children's, young adult and south regional manager. Some of her job descriptions are meeting with other children's librarians to discuss things like training, summer reading program, and how to select a good book, supervising staff and budgets as well as being responsible for the Ashland, Talent and Phoenix libraries. "Its all a matter of prioritizing and delegating," explains Billeter. "There is a lot of use of volunteers, one volunteer relieves every other staff member of some time." Billeter has big shoes to fill. She is replacing the newly retired Bob Wilson, who was a part of the Jackson County Libraries for 30 years and was the last south regional manager. "Bob and I were friends. I miss him being here," says Billeter. "He had a wonderful vision of the importance of public libraries. The staff here is wonderful and it's a tribute to him. This is a wonderful legacy to be a part of." As wonderful as Wilson was, the staff and community have been accepting and welcome to the change. "Anne is just a dynamo," says Perii Owen, a library staff member. "She's a totally amazing woman." Billeter is just as fond of her new staff as they are of her. "This is a terrific staff because people don't go into this field for money," says Billeter. "People become librarians because they have a love of books and libraries. They have passions that make it wonderful to work with them because we are all working for the same thing." One project that Billeter is a part of is the library outreach to day care homes and centers. As a part of children's services the library has staff visit 55 different daycare centers. "If they can't come to story time, we take story time to them," says Billeter with a smile. The library will bring the daycare center 40 paperback books per month to get kids involved in reading and stories. When Billeter is not busy at one of the three libraries that she manages she can usually be found reading, quilting, or studying genealogy. She also writes a monthly column for The Rouge Valley Parent. "I like writing, it gives me a sense of accomplishment," says Billeter. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: A new improved archive search is coming! Look for it in mid-February! .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams