Longtime Library Technician Jan Cook retires
- LAKE COUNTY LIBRARY
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A longtime library staffer is retiring.
Jan Cook started at the library in 1989 as a Library Page, reshelving returned library books.
She describes getting that first interview near her birthday over 32 years ago.
“I got a wonderful birthday gift — a job interview, which led to getting my first job with Lake County Library. I think of it as a gift that keeps on giving, for more than 30 years. Working for the library has been a good thing,” she said.
Cook came to love her job over the years until her recent retirement this December. Jan was an exemplary employee, working on many different projects over her tenure.
While she started at the Lakeport Library, she worked at other libraries in the County Library system as well. For six years, starting in 1992, she was the sole employee at the Upper Lake Library.
In 1998, she began full-time at the Lakeport Library as a library technician. A few years later she worked on the changeover from manual circulation with paper cards to digital circulation when Lake County joined with Sonoma and Mendocino County to share a computerized system.
Over her many years with the library Cook was a resource to the community, with her exceptional knowledge of Lake County history. She assisted many residents with historical and genealogical research. She worked on Interlibrary Loan, finding books outside of the library system.
Cook was also instrumental in bringing the California State Library funded ZipBooks program to Lake County.
Through the ZipBooks program, library patrons request books that the library does not own. The library then orders the book and has it shipped directly to the patron’s home. When the patron returns the book to the library it is added to the collection for others to enjoy.
The library recently resumed accepting ZipBook requests through their website after obtaining funding from the State Library.
Cook also wrote many press releases promoting library services and events with the community. Her articles about the library were featured regularly in local news outlets.
“No matter what Jan was working on, her devotion to providing the best library service possible was always evident,” said library director Christopher Veach, “Jan has earned her retirement many times over and will be sorely missed.”
Cook will be at the Lakeport Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, to say farewell to her library friends.
All are welcome to come and wish Cook well on her life in retirement. Light refreshments will be available.
Visit the Lake County Library Website at http://library.lakecountyca.gov.