GORE BAY—After close to 31 years as librarian at the Gore Bay Union Public Library, and as a volunteer at the library prior to that, Johanna Allison has announced she is retiring at the end of April.
“You have done an excellent job over 30 years,” said Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane at a retirement celebration held at the library last Saturday. “We are very proud of everything you have done for the library, and the library itself.”
“You have given 30 years of your life working at the library on behalf of the town, and all of Western Manitoulin, as this library is a union library for all of Western Manitoulin,” said Mayor Lane
Mayor Lane recalled when he was a youngster going to the library and his love of reading. He noted the library has had a long history, with the first local library, “the Gore Bay Mechanics Library, having opened in 1891.” At that time, it was not a public library until 1895 when three public libraries were opened to everyone deemed a “responsible person” in the community. From there the library operated in a number of private buildings in town, later moving to the agricultural office, the post office and then the old Gore Bay municipal office in 1953. The library was moved into the current town office in 1990.
“We have always been really well supported by the community, the library board and the councils,” said Ms. Allison. “In my 30 years here, I have always had good councils and boards to work with.”
“I can remember the first time I brought my kids to the library,” stated Kelly Chaytor, library board chair. “The kids were running up and down the aisles and making noise. I told them they had to be quiet in the library. Johanna said not to worry, everything was okay. She always made us, and everyone, feel comfortable here.”
Ms. Allison noted when she was a youngster in Palmerston, “I can remember our librarian. She was always shushing everyone who was loud. And I remember the library would stamp the date on each of the books taken out. I felt like I was a real librarian the first time I could use the date stamp.”
“On behalf of the library board we would like to present this plaque to Johanna in recognition of your 30 years,” said Ms. Chaytor. “You have been amazing to work with over the years.” She also presented a Manitoulin quilt to Ms. Allison.
As well, Ms. Chaytor noted, “the library board decided to dedicate the computer room in memory of you. Congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your work as the librarian over the past 30 years.
“After 30 years and 10 months it is time to pass the bookmark over to a new librarian,” Ms. Allison said in an interview with The Expositor last week. “I have enjoyed this job more than I ever imagined I would. The library has become like a second home to me. The people I have met over the years have been the best thing about the job. The stories I have heard and the friends I have made are countless.”
Ms. Allison explained that one of the hardest parts of being the librarian “was ordering books for a community of readers. What would folks like? What was the best price? I felt that since I was spending public money every penny had to count.”
“I have always loved to read and when we moved here the opportunity came for me to volunteer at the library which led quickly to working part-time, then the librarian CEO position,” said Ms. Allison. “When I started, the library had one computer that was for the librarian to use to write reports and board minutes. The internet was only in its infancy, and no one knew what to do with it. Over the years computers and the internet were added for the public to use, a colour printer was added for public printing, a new microfilm reader was purchased for the library’s collection of The Manitoulin Recorder newspaper from approximately 1910 to when it stopped being printed.”
Ms. Allison said, “I have served with great people on the library board, all of whom had the best interest of the library at heart. The support from the community has always been outstanding. I have also had the pleasure of working next door to great people at the town office who have been kind and willing to help if they were able.”
“When I hand over my keys to the new librarian CEO, Anya Wright, I will do so feeling confident that she will do a great job and alongside her the new assistant librarian will be there to support her,” added Ms. Allison.
