BELOVED ‘BOOKWORM’ JOAN RETIRES AFTER FORTY YEARS
MUCH LOVED JOAN TOBIN HAS RETIRED AS LIBRARIAN
“IT was a pleasure and privilege to serve the people of Newmarket all those years, and I was blessed with the job I had, I loved every minute,” Joan Tobin told the Corkman following her retirement after 40 years service as a librarian.
A large crowd of family, friends, and colleagues gathered at Scanlon’s Bar to wish Joan well, with great conversation and nostalgic memories flowing late into the night.
County Librarian Eileen O’ Brien, Divisional Librarian Bernie Wallace, and many of her colleagues from Cork, Mallow, Fermoy, Millstreet, Charleville, and Mitchelstown were present.
Bernie Wallace thanked Joan for her outstanding work over the years and this was reiterated by County Librarian Eileen O’ Brien presented Joan with a piece of sculpture and a gift cheque from Cork County Council and said; “her kindness both to her colleagues and to the people of Newmarket is legendary, she was always calm and serene and no matter what challenges the day brought Joan’s priority was always service” Eileen said.
Joan told the Corkman that from a young age she knew she wanted to work in a Library; “I used to go to the Library here in town every few days when I was young, I was a dedicated bookworm” she said with a smile. She started work in Cork in 1970 and moved to the County Service in 1972 where she was assigned to the Mobile Library, travelling all over North Cork.
She took a short break while her children were little and started back in 1984 when Jimmy Cross retired from the Library in Newmarket. The Library at Church St. relocated to Scarteen St. in 2000, and with the arrival of the computerised system, Joan explained that everything changed; “we were able to liaise with colleagues around the county and of course there were Computers for public use” she said.
In addition she hosted English classes for non nationals, author visits, and numerous events for children.
When this building was deemed unsuitable, the Library was moved to a Portacabin in the Car Park where it remained for three years until a new premises was procured at High St in 2013 where the library has been “a hive of activity” ever since.
Joan said she was “literally amazed” by all the compliments and good wishes she has received on her retirement and she urged people to continue to use the fantastic facilities that are on offer in the Library which will be henceforth in the capable hands of Ger Dunne.
While a chapter has closed for Joan, she will turn a brand new page as she looks forward to spending more time with her grand children, doing a bit of travelling, and chilling out with a good book or two!.