Love affair with library
Longtime clerk dedicated to providing community with programs
Janet Rizzo can’t help but smile when she talks about the children in the “clubs” she helps organize at the New Waterford Library.
“You call it a club and they all want to be in it,” Rizzo said. “I love kids. I always see the potential in them and I always go for the underdogs.”
Unofficially, Rizzo is the activities co-ordinator for the library, creating all the free programming. Officially, the 58-year-old is a library clerk and what started as a part-time job 34 years ago has become a passion for connecting the community with the library.
“It’s more like a community centre now, at least to me,” said Rizzo, whose dedication recently brought her to the library during her vacation to help run a program.
Shortly after being promoted to full-time status in 1988, Rizzo was asked by staff at the Cape Breton Regional Library head office to help create programs for adults and children. There was no increase in pay or job title. The programs worked for about 10 years but then attendance fell off until Rizzo created the Girl Power self-esteem workshop in 2011.
The success of Girl Power led to the Mini-Girl Power program.
Rizzo then focused on getting more boys into the library and started looking for donations of Legos to start a club. The most recent installment of the Lego Club kicked off on Oct. 11 and is completely full. So is the CBU Science Club.
Rizzo also creates programs for adults like the colouring group, paint nights and book clubs. The library has a small budget for programs and Rizzo looks to the community for donations of money or supplies for the rest.
“Janet is an amazing person. Patient, kind, and goes out of her way to make the girls feel included and have fun anytime they are there,” said Nadene Murray, a mother of three girls who have attended programs at New Waterford Library.
“She’ll call to remind me of the days, times and anything they might need to bring for certain events … The girls just love attending all of her programs and when nothing is happening,
they’re always asking if Janet called.”
Crystal McInnis has worked with Rizzo for nine years and said when anyone has questions about the library or New Waterford, she turns to Rizzo.
“I love Janet. She’s my go to because … she knows exactly what people are talking about when they come in with questions,” said McInnis adding Rizzo is like a local historian.
Over the past few years, McInnis has watched Rizzo’s hard work to “bring community and library together.”
“Janet’s words are, ‘People need to know it’s not just books here,’” she said.
“We have even been in the Christmas parade. We didn’t do that before. That’s Janet’s brainwaves coming up with good things like that.”
Rizzo admits she’s busy with her grandchildren and volunteering at places like the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay and the Highland Arts Theatre in Sydney. But she doesn’t seem ready to slow down anytime soon.
Driven by the need to create activities in a community where there are few, especially for children, Rizzo is humble about her achievements calling it a group effort involving all the New Waterford Library staff.
Rizzo also praises the community for being quick to donate, especially to the children’s programs.
“They’ll say this is for the kids because they know there is nothing for them in this town,” she said.
“It’s rewarding … The kids want to come back here so something is being done right.”