Ray retiring from library Friday

SANDPOINT — Acquisitions librarian Gloria Ray has seen quite a few changes come to the Sandpoint library in her almost 27 years of work.

Within a quarter of a century, she has witnessed the library grow and expand into the impressive community service it is today. After years of dedicated work, however, she has decided to make Friday her last day in the office.

Residents have a chance to wish her well over a cup of tea this Friday from 2-4:30 p.m. at the library.    

 “It’s just the right time to retire,” Ray said. “We’ve taken on new staff members and I feel comfortable leaving.”

Back when Ray first started at the library, it was a much different place. She got her start in the 1980s, when the library’s inventory, services and staff were beginning to outgrow the old facility at 419 Second Ave. The library employees made the best of a situation that was far from ideal as new books piled up and community interest grew. Parking space was inadequate and the building didn’t meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Throughout the first several years of her career, efforts to establish a new building for the Sandpoint library fell through. Several attempts to pass a bond to fund the new facility failed. Finally, voters approved a bond to construct the existing library in 1998.

According to Ray, the transition between the old building and the newly constructed facility provided some of the most memorable moments of her career. Transporting the books was no mean feat, but thanks to community volunteers, the library was open in its new location by the April 2000.

The new building brought about adjustments of its own. Ray remembered that oftentimes, staff members would feel like they weren’t alone thanks to odd sounds or feelings. However, upon further inspection, they wouldn’t find anyone. Ray chalked it up to a new ventilation system and equipment.

“People always said the old building was haunted too, so maybe the ghosts followed us over,” she said.

With her days at the library coming to a close, Ray plans to partake in several hobbies she hasn’t had enough time to enjoy. Her leisure reading is bound to increase, of course, but so will her time spent hiking in the woods and gardening. She has a grandchild in Los Angeles that she’ll enjoy visiting more frequently, and she hopes to give some of her time to the some of the many worthy local volunteer organizations.

Nevertheless, Ray said being a part of the East Bonner County Library District has been privilege she’ll be sad to see go.

“The library has been great,” she said. “Whenever people come here for the first time, they’re always amazed that a town this size has a library so big and active.”

More than anything else, Ray will miss the many people she has met through the her work at the library. After 27 years, she’s seen some of her regulars grow up to introduce new library members.

“Stay here long enough, and you’ll start to see some of those kids get older and come in with kids of their own,” she said.