Jaffrey Public Library’s longest-serving employee, Library Assistant Linda Gleason, is retiring after 24 years.

The library held a sendoff event for Gleason, and Library Director Julie Perrin called Gleason her “rock” since she took up the lead role at the library nine years ago.

“She’s out longest employee, and has been wonderful for her institutional knowledge, but also her support, her creativity,” Perrin said. “We’re all going to miss the many things she’s done for us, not just in library programming, but in the way she supports everyone here at the library. She’s just a very special person, and she deserves a wonderful retirement.”

Gleason said she started at the library part-time, having come from running a library and its programming for kindergarten through middle school. She helped build library displays and crafts, and has watched the library grow and change.

She pointed to Circulation Supervisor Bailey Bernier.

“To see Bailey here, I knew her since she was two feet tall, coming into the children’s room,” Gleason said. “And we must have made a difference, because she’s making her career in the library, now. There have been ups and downs, here, but people in this town are really lucky to have this library.”

Gleason said she originally was an English teacher, but said she was discouraged by the lack of literacy she was seeing in her students.

“Crossing into the library gave me the chance to help show kids, ‘Don’t say you don’t like reading. You just haven’t found what you’re interested in,’ ” she said. “To get them the information they need, the kinds of books they want to read, is very rewarding.”

Perrin said there are probably some patrons of the library that have seen Gleason’s hand in library programs, without ever knowing it. She has put together the library’s iSpy cabinets, and designed and put together hundreds of Take-and-Make crafts that were distributed during COVID. She’s also responsible for all book repairs within the library, repairing spines and ripped pages.

“That tear that looks like it magically disappeared, or a book with a broken binding, that's all Linda. People might not even realize that they’re doing things that she planned,” Perrin said.

Patty Proulx of Jaffrey said her grandchildren, who visit her in Jaffrey every summer, love “Ms. Linda’s” Take-and-Make crafts. They love them so much, she said, that when they’re not visiting, she will check some out to mail to them.

“They were just very simple kits, but meant a lot to kids who were creative and wanted something to do. And the price was right,” Proulx said. “This library has everything, but it starts with having the best people, who are friends as well, who know you by name. They’re warm and welcoming to everyone who comes in.”

Library Trustee Chair John Stone said that Gleason was “a great person to be around,” and always willing to take up any task.

“She loved the adults, loved the kids, and loved coming up with new ideas. And is always smiling – that’s what I’m going to remember about her. People come to the library, they want to feel respected and they want to feel welcomed, and Linda always helped to make this a welcoming place.”

Gleason said in her retirement, she plans to return to an active role in the Garden Club, take day trips to explore New England history and spend some more time with her four grandchildren.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.