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AUBURN, Mass. – For Diane Ramsay, becoming the library director in Auburn isn’t simply switching to a new job, its also returning to a place she knows very well.
Ramsay, who lived in Auburn for a decade and whose daughter graduated from Auburn High School, started her position at Auburn Public Library on Monday.
“I thought it was a wonderful community when I lived here, and I think it is the same kind of wonderful place now,” Ramsay said. “I look forward to working with the trustees and the staff. Auburn is very lucky in having a really wonderful and friendly staff. I’m very excited.”
Ramsay has worked in a library “in one job or another for 30 years,” she said. Ramsay, who has a master’s degree in library science from Simmons College, used to work as a consultant out of the Worcester Library, and she has also been an academic librarian.
Most recently, she worked as the head of youth services, for children and young adults, at the Chicopee Public Library in Western Massachusetts.
“I saw the listing for the Auburn position, and I thought it’d be nice to go somewhere I’m familiar with,” Ramsay said. “I used the library when I lived here for years and loved it. Beside from being a librarian, I’m a big library user and fan. I visit libraries everywhere I go.
“Anybody can use a library, and I love that,” she added. “Libraries are one of the most democratic institutions we have. All you have to do to come to a library is want to.”
As the library director, Ramsay said it will be important to get to know the community again, as well as getting comfortable with the staff.
“I’ll need to start by finding out what kinds of things people are using and what kinds of new things we need to be looking forward to,” she said. “Also, I was reading some survey responses about the staff, and it was just one thing after another, saying how friendly and helpful the staff was. I really look forward to working with them.”
Town Manager Julie Jacobson introduced Ramsay at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting. Jacobson said that the town is “thrilled to have her.”
“Collectively, we all feel that she is the best candidate, and she is going to do a great job,” Jacobson said.
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