PEA RIDGE — Truly enjoying people, getting to know their likes and dislikes is a talent Linda Whitaker has honed. As librarian at Pea Ridge Community Library for the past 10 years, Whitaker knows her patrons and their reading tastes.
“Someone will come in hereand try to ask for a book saying ‘I want a book by that author, you know...’ thinking Linda passed all her knowledge on to me,” said Library Board chairman Peggy Maddox, “but it doesn’t work that way.”
Maddox has been working while Whitaker was on medicalleave. Whitaker resigned this week.
Whitaker, a 1968 graduate of Pea Ridge High School, had worked various jobs, but mostly chose to be home when her children were home. “I think its important to raise responsible human beings,” she said of being a stay-at-home mother. But by 2000, her son had graduated and was working full-time and her daughter was a junior in high school and working.
The librarian at the time, Jennifer Hook, asked Whitaker if she’d be interested in the job.
“I am so incredibly grateful ... I just want the public to know how much I appreciate them letting me be their librarian,” Whitakersaid this week as she prepared to retire. She views the job as a privilege.
During her sophomore and junior years in high school, Whitaker worked in the school library under the direction of Mrs. Williams.
“I like books. I have read constantly, sometimes a book a day,” she said. “I have a knack for remembering titles, authors, genres.
“I do like people. I find people so much fun and so interesting,” Whitaker said, smilingly remembering various patrons over the years. “I have an empathy with people. I have very few prejudices against people.”
She did admit that shefavors children and enjoys seeing children mature in their love for books and their reading preferences.
“I think what makes me the most pleased is introducing new books to children,” she said. “I love it when a child comes in and asks if I have any more books by that author they just read.”
Ten years ago, when Whitaker took on the job, there were 7,000 volumes in the little library. Now, there are 15,000.
Several people in town still have library numbers below 10. But now, there are 3,800 library numbers issued. And Whitaker knows many of her regular customers’ numbers by heart.
“I have made so many new friends. It’s interesting how many men are readers,” she said. “We have good, eclectic readers.”
Some people come in and stay and visit. All find a listening ear in the quiet, smiling, twinkling blueeyed librarian.
She recalled one library patron, a man, who read only Western paperbacks when he started visiting the library. But, with gentle encouragement and direction, he broadened his interests.
“I hope what I have done is to make the library warm and welcoming. I wanted them to always have a pleasant experience with the librarian,” she said.
The library patrons varyfrom young to old, from natives to newcomers and retirees who’ve recently moved to the area. But to each, Whitaker gives a welcoming smile and an eager hand.
“My dad’s people were hill people ... I’ve met very few people I didn’t care for,” she said. “I love it when the older people come in and would share their stories.”
News, Pages 1 on 06/29/2011