Turning the Page

Ann Moore, director of the Upper Arlington Public Library, will retire May 31 after 33 years of working with the library. She had told board members that she would stay with the library through the next levy, which passed successfully in March. Moore says she feels it’s time for her to move on and for the library to have a new director.

After her retirement, she plans to work in the arts and volunteer in music, as well as volunteer with the nonprofit Friends of the Upper Arlington Public Library, which raises $80,000-$100,000 for the library each year.

“I’m not planning on just sitting in a rocking chair. I’m planning on staying busy,” Moore says.

Moore stayed very busy during her 14 years as director, overseeing the library through a technological transformation and a shaky economic climate. During her time as director, the library’s readership increased to an average of 55 books checked out per person per year – even as state budget cuts and rising costs made it increasingly challenging for Moore and her staff to fully serve the community.

“I’m just so proud of the staff that we’ve become,” she says. “We’ve taken cutbacks, but our staff still wants to innovate

Upper Arlington Library Director Ann

Moore retires

By Leah Wolf

and try new things, and tries to implement what the community is asking for.”

Moore says she’ll miss working with her staff to make the library the best one possible for the Upper Arlington community, and she’ll miss the daily interaction with the patrons who show their appreciation by continuing to support the nationally recognized library. She will also miss being part of the technology that has become so central to libraries, which has led to the challenge of balancing faster service with a continued personal connection.

“Our job is much more about being in communication with people than it used to be,” Moore says. “We’ve tried to make it quicker and easier for people to use the library and still keep that personal touch.”

Moore is grateful for a lot about her experience as director, but because of her forward-thinking attitude, she doesn’t spend much time looking back.

“I’m proud to have represented the library over the years,” Moore says.

Leah Wolf is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@pubgroupltd.com.