Celebrating the accomplishments of Kathy Webb, Director of Shelby's Marvin Memorial Library
Kathy Webb began work at the Marvin Memorial Library on November 26, 2012. She replaced library director Ann Bavin who had worked at the library for 29 years. Bavin passed away earlier in 2012 from a longtime struggle with cancer. Webb’s last day in the office was 10 years to the day – Nov. 26, 2022. Her retirement date is March 1, 2023
“I walked in on that first day with more than a little trepidation, but found that the staff had set up tables for a shared breakfast where we could start to get acquainted. I knew that the previous director had passed away after a lengthy illness, and that the staff members had fond memories of the individual but still painful regard for her demise,” Webb recalled.
It is clear that Webb accomplished so much during her time at Marvin Memorial Library. The following are just some of those accomplishments she informed Drain of during their conversation. The library was using Cutter numbers on the spine labels. Webb changed the spine labels to include four letters of the author’s name so patrons could find books more easily.
The library was then a standalone system with an adequate online catalog but almost no interlibrary loan. She began to explore the Consortium of Ohio Libraries (COOL) and also canvassed the community attending meetings and making connections with people in local government and social service to determine needs.
Webb added circulation staff and a Children’s Librarian. She trained staff to handle more than routine procedures and encouraged them to consider their interests or hobbies for possible displays or programs.
The Reference collection was large and largely obsolete so Webb saw to it that items were weeded if they had been superseded by a new edition. Some books were transferred to the nonfiction collection or to the Marvin Room.
The reference collection was weaned down to a dictionary, a thesaurus, an atlas, an almanac, and an animal encyclopedia used for homework assignments. The Ohio Web Library was relatively new at that time so she felt it was a great opportunity to promote those electronic reference resources.
Through a grant from The Shelby Foundation aging patron computers were replaced and better internet access employed. Director of the Shelby Foundation had this to say about Webb: “We have a gem in our local library and that is, in part, to Kathy’s leadership. She sees the value of collaboration. She is willing to be part of discussions and inspire opportunities that make her organization unique and well respected. It was during one of our conversations where she shared her dream to have interactive play at the library. It was because of her vision, a partnership was formed between Marvin Memorial Library, Buckeye Imagination Museum and The Shelby Foundation. This never would have happened if Kathy hadn’t vocalized her desire to add this attraction. Because of this collaboration, all of our organizations are stronger for it. It has been a joy to work with Kathy. She has been a great community partner and I wish her a happy retirement.”
Webb went on to describe her experience with COOL: “COOL was a good fit for our small library and the price was considerably less than comparable commercial products. I liked the aspect of participant involvement in ongoing open source development. We migrated to the Evergreen system used by COOL on February 20, 2014. Overnight we became one of (then) nine libraries with a shared catalog. Our patrons could select materials from the other COOL libraries and have them in hand within a week.”
COOL brought greater access to statistics that described the collection and its use. It soon became evident that the library had a huge adult nonfiction collection that saw little use, and a modest adult fiction collection that was highly used and very cramped for space. Webb began to examine the circulation statistics for individual nonfiction books and found that many items had circulated only a few times and had not circulated at all in recent years.
She and the staff weeded out the library’s nonfiction collection that were in poor condition or had circulated three times or less and had not circulated at all in the past five years. Most of the items withdrawn from the library collection were eventually sold when the Friends of the Library had a book sale. As the nonfiction collection began to shrink and open up shelves, they started to move the fiction collection into the larger shelving area.
The remaining nonfiction was transferred to the smaller shelving area. Webb said, “Having culled out the old and dusty books, the covers of our remaining recent nonfiction books were so colorful and attractive that people thought we had a brand new nonfiction collection!” Weeding continues to be a necessary part of collection maintenance. MML’S patrons want new materials but our shelves are full and our library space is limited.
Staff members participated in professional development, planned programs, and brought more people into the library. Webb demanded a central calendar book after a few experiences of ‘directing traffic’ when the meeting rooms had been double-booked. That calendar now has entries a year in advance. Webb also taught the staff to look up and greet every person who walks in the door, certainly to be friendly but also so each person knows his/her presence has been noted.
She said she has learned much of the history of this library and city and have enjoyed sharing it. During Webb’s time at MML, they renovated the Marvin Room as a repository of local history and genealogy. She digitally scanned many of the library’s historical records. Webb also commissioned the mural which became their historical focal point.
Webb was instrumental in digitizing the microfilmed Daily Globes dating back to 1900, more than 120 years worth, as well as some other local newspapers dating to the 1860s. Drain commented, “This has been a godsend for historians and genealogists like me to be able to search for topics and names.”
Webb stated that over the years her staff members had revealed their capabilities. “One is a Master Gardener; one creates an annual scrapbook of library happenings. One is a program planner; one is a capable hostess. One handles schedules and is willing to fill in where needed. Two handle the details of paraprofessional cataloging. One is empathetic to people in need and directs them to available resources. One excels in customer service; another promotes the library through social media. One is visionary and a formidable project manager. Several enjoy working with children and have had significant impact on young lives. Those who clean and fix things are truly valued,” she said.
Webb continued, “I found my niche in repeated programs like the monthly gatherings of the Book Discussion Group that started in 1987, or the knitters that faithfully bring their handiwork and go home with a few more library books. I became the de facto genealogy expert; it’s a lifelong learning process. Each one brings value and has made the library what it is today.”
“I have built a solid foundation of library services and have taught my staff to maintain it. A foundation is meant to be built upon, and I have encouraged my staff to develop their interests and skills. They have made the library much of what it has come to be today. The foundation still stands and supports the visions for the future. The library that was once small and dusty has become mighty, a visible and viable community collaborator and a shining example to many of Ohio’s libraries,” Webb concluded.
Webb was also a member of the Richland County – Shelby Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, and their recording secretary. According to Drain, she never missed a meeting and took copious notes to create their chapter’s minutes. She always brought library monthly calendars to keep them up to date on activities. She still keeps in touch with Drain to share her research on her family history.
The Richland County – Shelby Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society is hosting a retirement party for Marvin Memorial Library director Kathy Webb at 6 p.m. March 9 at the Shelby Senior Center. The public is invited to attend. Kathy was recording secretary for their chapter and they would also like to honor her 10 years of service to the Shelby community.