Today is retirement day for 3 of our long-time staff members who are taking advantage of the City of Davenport’s early retirement incentives. We are sad to see them go but grateful that they get to leave on their own terms so they can fully enjoy the next chapter in their lives. They have seen the library change and grow over the years as they have. We would love to share a little bit about these coworkers who-will-be-missed!
Shelley (Wheeler) Sterbenz worked as a page at the Annie Wittenmyer branch while she was a student at Davenport North High School. She left us to attend the University of Northern Iowa after graduating High School in 1991. Shelley came back in June 2006 to work in the Customer Service Department at the newly opened Fairmount Street branch. She has worked at all of our branches and has represented the Library in many outreach opportunities in the community. She is one of the Library’s greatest cheerleaders. Shelley is leaving us to continue being World’s Greatest Mom to 3 very athletic kiddos and spend more time rooting for her favorite teams. We don’t think this is the last we’ll see of Shelley!
Christine (Brown) Holifield worked as a page at the Library with her best friend, Rita, while they were students at Davenport West High School in the late 1960s. She attended Marycrest College and Southeast Missouri State University. Chris came back in September 1984 and worked as Principal Clerk in the Circulation Department. She was promoted to Acquisitions Clerk in the Technical Services Department in June 1995. She had countless meetings with book vendors, opened a gazillion boxes, and beat our ILS acquisitions module into submission. Chris is leaving us to continue being World’s Greatest Grandma to her adorable grandkids, doting on her husband, watching her favorite shows with her cats, and hopefully start traveling again soon.
Patricia (Luckett) Richardson started working at the newly built Main Street library just a couple of weeks after it opened, in November 1968. In 1974 she was tasked to work with the Federal Library Depository Program. She’s been stamping Government Documents ever since, while also helping patrons with genealogy and local history research. She is one of our best primary sources for local history. There have been many times when we’ve asked her if she knew of a person we are researching and they usually end up having been married to one of her relatives. Pat is reluctantly leaving us to continue traveling the world hopefully very soon. We have no idea how we’re going to survive without her.
Best wishes to Shelley, Chris & Pat!
(posted by Cristina)
Retirement is always bittersweet. On one side you’re thrilled to go on to better things. On the other side, leaving your coworkers and schedule. Congratulations to the retirees today. May you find exciting opportunities in the years to come.
Congratulations Pat, I will miss your friendly and always knowledgeable assistance.