HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990 __Qhicago Tribune.Wednesday,April 4, 1990 Section 8 53 Oak Brook/Hinsdale
Memorable librarianpopular withreaders
By Martin Zabell ,.. , 5,tr
' i ' ,,
Cecile Martin remembers the
names of most of the people whom �• �
use the Oak Brook Public Lim . ;• t
brary—including the children. e o �� x� aw?g . "" *�
That's not all she remembers i * r
she loves to surprise the children A• }
by wishing them "Happy Birth- ...-, "
day" when their birthdays come p `ti ,
up. "If I see their birthday on an `� ,� I iI r• � =x
application [for a library card] otilr
I'll remember it," she says. i J "' f
Martin has worked part time at 1 y i } ,`
the library for 13 years, and her I
ability to remember patrons' : '' ' is• 7-4p,,_-,,,,:.*,,,, i y
names and birthdays has en- i T. '" 1 �, { t'� , "
deared her to them, says head ' i '` t r . ; - Rdt.,. "
librarian Joanne Fritter. a j _
Another time, Fritter saw a � 't i':;'."/
child in "total surprise" when ,-7„*,, � `
Martin congratulated him on J ',
being one year older. "He could ' � „
not believe she knew," she says. ^" °
Most of the children know 4 = ' '/ ', * ,t
about Martin's memo howev- �' a 1 , ` Ri l
er. "They come in and say: �w �� -,
`When's my birthday? What's my • �, - _ •
name?'„ Martin says. # 7......1„ '° ,,
Once a tall, thin teenager moans pro by caste„
walked into the library and Mar- Cecile Martin, a part-time worker at the Oak membering patron's birth dates. Once she sees
tin recognized him even though Brook Library for 13 years, has a knack for re-
find
date on a library card, she says, it sticks.
she hadn't seen him in four or
five years, since he was a "little, at the prospect of doing so. cords on the library's collection, pater to help patrons find what
bitty kid," she says. "I love that computer," she including non-book items. With they want is one of Martin's duti-
Martin loves playing this game. says. "I was anxious for us to get it, a librarian can tell whether es. In the 18 hours a week she
But relating to the patrons •is that. I couldn't wait to start using items are on the shelves or have works, she also answers phones,
only part of what she likes about it." When two technologists came been checked out and can look checks books in and out, and
the work She also enjoys using to train staffers on the computer, up items by title, subject and au sends bills and reminders to peo-
the library's computer system, Martin had no trouble learning thor.
Pie with overdue books. She is
which was installed in 1986. how to use it. Fritter says Martin adjusted to one of seven part time employees
She had never used high-tech The system, which is not avail- the new system well and is skilled at the library, which has two fa-
t
equipment, but she was excited able for patrons' use, contains re-
had
at operating it. Using the com- Continued on page 57
1
>'s .c::'1: r- '. ,.;'. Chicago Tribune,Wednesday,April 4, 1990 Section 8 57 Oak Brook/Hinadab-
Library aide I n , ;,,,t - - a
�s remembered : ,,1174 . x
�� r- � - i1�� � :
bybook-lovers
, s� : ;
k-lovers �� _i` = �? .11
Continued from page 53 , ,E t °l �<..„ , ;, I s s !
time staffers. � r satt ;.
Martin sought a job at the h `` ' ] '
brary, 1200 Oak Brook Rd., be RIIINIBbff! d t
cause reference work was "always7,..14',0„ _
something I liked to do," she
says. " �. � •'
Martin has become invaluable, 3`;,,
not only to people seeking a par .>,,
ticular book but to those trying r
to decide what to read, Fritter s � , "~ 4.
says. l ," � �, '
s �; •,
"She's a real asset to the staff," ,.__`
Fritter says. "All of us have dif-
ferent strengths. She enjoys ��
reading current fiction and hasL. 1
Il
become a resource person for
people. We lean on her a bit for ' 4 r „ la ,
recommendations."
Martin reads 15 books a . . 1 3`
month—"I'm from a family of *°' , �� �.
readers,,, she says. �,I ' - I a� :. , '
Besides current fiction, she Tribune aiob Dy Don
loves art and travel books and Joanne Fritter is head librarian at the Oak Brook moving the library, which has been in its present
reads as many best sellers as pos- Public Library. Village officials are considering building since 1922, into a new facility.
sible to enhance her value to the
patrons. She has observed that then called back later to apolo- "I love the election judging be- adjust to numerous changes. Oak
adults prefer fiction and myster- gam, cause it's a way of meeting peo- Brook residents have been using
ies, and students take out mostly ``She keeps her cool and pie and being involved in politics, the same library since 1922, but
nonfiction books, she says. doesn't get flustered," Fritter which I've always liked," she officials are considering building
As part of her job, Martin says. says. In her spare time, she dines a facility on a different site.
sends out about 50 overdue no- Marti
n says her sunny nature with friends, does needlepoint
tices a week and deals with cus- comes from her upbringing. "I and reads. Despite her fondness for the
notices,tomers who are angry about the was told to always say hello with Martin was born in Chicago, 'like such a change, she Would
the name if you know it, she and she and her husband,Joseph,
I let people vent their anger says. have lived in Oak Brook since "It's a wonderful time to be
and then give them a soft an- Martin is active in charitable 1967. They have two grown chil- alive and appreciate all the good
swer," she says. Once a woman activities, and she has handed out dren. [new] things that are coming up
yelled at her over the phone, but and counted ballots for 20 years. Someday Martin may have to all the time."