General News
29 June, 2022
Library stalwart welcomes retirement
MARGARET McIntosh has called time on her illustrious career as a librarian in Terang, but has every confidence in the future as a familiar face takes her place.
MARGARET McIntosh has called time on her illustrious career as a librarian in Terang, but has every confidence in the future as a familiar face takes her place.
Mrs McIntosh has served as Terang branch librarian for the past 33 years.
An avid reader and writer, the position has been a natural fit.
“I just decided it was time to take time to myself,” she said.
“I always said I would only work if I enjoyed it, and I have. It’s been a great job.
“It’s always been a great working environment with good staff and the Corangamite Regional Library Corporation was great to work for.”
While being surrounded by books provided Mrs McIntosh the opportunity to satisfy her own literary curiosities, she said being able to introduce young readers to books stood out as a highlight.
“It’s been good helping people find what they would like to read, and particularly introducing children to and teaching them about books,”she said.
“When they do that, reading becomes easy for them.
“It’s been good to watch them as they’ve grown up, and some of them are now bringing their own kids in after all these years.”
Incoming Terang branch librarian Pepita Marshall, who has worked indirectly with Mrs McIntosh since 1989, has been tabbed to take over the role.
No stranger to the area, having lived in Kolora for much of her life, she joins the Terang Library after serving as Colac Branch librarian for the past 18 years.
Mrs Marshall will be on hand to help the public as libraries in Corangamite Shire transition from previous managers Corangamite Regional Library Corporation to the new amalgamated Corangamite Moyne Library Service, which becomes official from tomorrow (Friday, July 1).
“Colac transitioned under the Geelong Regional Library Corporation banner so I led the team through that change,” she said.
“The community were quite anxious about it but apart from having to change everyone’s card, which we’ll be having to do again from Friday, I think they came to appreciate they still had the same service.
“We worked really hard to maintain the same services and programs, keeping it the same for the public.
“We had a dedicated, diverse staff which had the community in mind.”
A downside of the transition was Mrs Marshall would have to travel the almost two-hour drive to Geelong more frequently.
Unwilling to move away from the region she has called home, she jumped at the opportunity in Terang.
But her experience with Colac’s own transition to a new library service may prove a fortuitous opportunity to bring a wealth of knowledge as Terang undergoes a similar change.
“I want people to just come in here and not notice too much difference, only that they will have a broader base of books to chose from because we will have a lot more access to Victorian libraries,” she said.
“They can put their reservations on a book coming from somewhere like Ballarat, and it will come. The community will have a broader range of resources to draw from.
“I’ve already spent some time here with Margaret recently so I’ve already met some of my old borrowers from way back when, which was lovely to see.
“I’m also meeting new people all the time and I’m really enjoying becoming reacquainted with my community.”