They say time flies when you’re having fun.
For Cathy Forst, who last week celebrated 30 years as the Springfield Township Library director, the old adage rings true.
‘I love my job,? said Forst, who came to the library in 1979. ‘I feel blessed and lucky to have been in this position for 30 years.?
In fact, she said, as her kids go through college and look for careers of their own, she draws from her own experience when dispensing advice.
‘I told them, ‘Money is great, but having a job you like is important.? I’ve always enjoyed going to work; it’s always something different’never boring and always a challenge.?
Forst said her initial goal in 1979 was to make sure people in the community were aware of the library’which, at the time, was located inside the old Andersonville Schoolhouse’and felt welcome and comfortable.
‘We succeeded fairly well in that effort,? she said. ‘We were always busy because people liked coming to that building; they liked the atmosphere and felt welcome and comfortable there.?
In fact, she said, as the library outgrew its schoolhouse location, some patrons feared some of its character would be lost in a big new building, and were ‘a little leery? about a move.
But in Forst’s vision, a library isn’t so much a building as it is the people who make it up.
‘Anytime I need to hire someone I always look for a person who’s welcoming and friendly to the community,? she said. ‘We’re here to serve them, that’s a big thing to me. That was our emphasis in the beginning and it still is.?
to me. That was our emphasis in the beginning and it still is.?
But, she pointed out, serving the community also means having a wide array of resources on hand.
The library offers computers with high-speed T1 Internet access, which not only allows normal access to the web but also gives patrons admission to a number of subscription database services for in-depth genealogy, financial and other research.
‘We also have a huge DVD collection and a big CD music collection that often gets overlooked,? Forst said.
In a flagging economy, though, more and more people are taking advantage of the free DVD and CD rentals, as well as other library services like one-on-one computer classes, quick access to job-related websites. A number of newspapers are also available for those who want to keep an eye on classified advertisements.
‘We also just had our biggest book sale ever,? said Forst, who calls herself a voracious reader, said she particularly enjoys mystery novels with a female protagonist when it’s time to relax.
‘We wondered if it had something to do with the economic climate’people who usually buy new books being a little more careful with their spending.?
The library’s used book sales are organized by the Friends of the Springfield Township Library.
‘We have a small Friends group but they are phenomenal people,? Forst said. ‘They put on book sales, and have a store in the library. They’ve given a lot of money that enables us to do things we wouldn’t normally be able to do. They go above and beyond, and they’re great ambassadors out in the community. We couldn’t ask for better representatives.?
And, Forst said, she feels the same about the people who work in the library.
While the library operates under the authority of a six-member elected board, Forst handles the day-to-day management, overseeing personnel, purchasing decisions, execution of the budget and other administrative responsibilities.
But she doesn’t do it without help.
‘I’m very lucky,? she said. ‘I have a wonderful staff of 13, and they all do a great job.?
But as board members, friends, elected officials and members of the community gathered for a reception to honor Forst last week, many said it was the library, in fact, that was lucky.
‘Cathy’s been such a wonderful director,? said Ruth Gruber, one of the library board’s original and current members.
‘She had a vision of what she wanted to do and that vision has really helped the library to grow. She’s a wonderful person who works so well with the community.?
The 14,000-square-foot library offers various programs for children and adults in the community, is a member of The Library Network and houses a collection of over 35,000 items.
The library is located inside the Springfield Township Civic Center at 12000 Davisburg Road.
Call 248-846-6550 or visit www.springfield.lib.mi.us