Longtime children’s librarian to finish final chapter at Haddonfield library
After more than 20 years serving as the Haddonfield Public Library’s children’s librarian, Dorothy Peppard is saying her goodbyes as she gears up to retire on Friday, Dec. 13.
“I’ll miss the buzz,” Peppard said.
The “buzz,” she explained, is the low hum and chatter of the number of children who have come through the library over the last two decades. Peppard admitted that though she does work within a library, she has always been a bit relaxed on the rules, allowing children to speak softly from time to time.
“I have to find a way to create the buzz on my own now,” Peppard said.
Peppard’s tenure at Haddonfield Public Library began in 1993, after already being a children’s librarian at Southampton Free Library for five years.
“I worked here in a very part-time reference capacity,” Peppard said.
Happening by chance, Peppard said she was hired to fill the position of a librarian going on maternity leave, after she had just returned from having a baby of her own.
“It took awhile,” Peppard said. “I increased my hours very little by little.”
Eventually, the librarian who left on maternity leave never returned, and Peppard became a permanent member on the library staff.
Although Peppard was, and still remains, a resident of Cinnaminson, she said she fell in love with Haddonfield almost instantaneously.
“It’s a very unique town. I get why people stay here for generations,” Peppard said.
While the library has gone through many changes over the years, Peppard said when she first began hosting children’s programs at the library, she encountered mostly mothers, who would bring their children to the event and also form their own group with other mothers. However, due to changing times, she said she now sees more fathers, grandparents and nannies.
“It’s really a lot of fun,” Peppard said.
As she reminisced about her early days at the library, Peppard said she loves hearing from parents and caretakers about how the children have grown up and where they are in their lives, as she added that most of her original group has now entered college.
“I love to see that,” Peppard said. “In some very small way, I feel that was part of their journey.”
Currently, Peppard hosts multiple story programs, including “Preschool Story Time” and “Toddlertime,” as well as “Spanish for Kids” and “Read to A Dog.”
Peppard hosts three story times a week, with her baby program being the most popular even though she was initially hesitant about the program.
“To my surprise, these babies get so much out of it,” she said.
After she began hosting the program, Peppard realized just how many babies were looking at the pages, and even dancing and clapping during the songs.
“With the help of the parents, we really have fun with it,” Peppard said.
She recalled trying out programs over time, and even for a brief time hosting teen programs, such as craft programs and movie nights. Peppard admitted, though, that she soon found it was hard to garner a sizeable turnout with teen programs. Peppard recalled having some luck with a Halloween-themed movie night for teens, before ultimately sticking to children’s programs.
“Teens are very busy in Haddonfield,” she said.
Over the years, Peppard said she has seen a great deal of expansion in the services the library offers, as she recalled the integration of electronic books just last year.
“We’ve grown our programs drastically,” Peppard said.
With the focus of the library shifting to electronic about five years ago, Peppard said the electronic book borrowing program was implemented after contracting with 3M Library Systems. With a kiosk affixed by the entrance, patrons can now borrow books electronically with devices such as a Nook or Kindle. Same as a physical book, the electronic books have a due date for when they must be returned. Adding an extra layer of convenience, she added that patrons could even access the online portal at home.
“It seems that things are going in that direction,” Peppard said.
She added that while she likes to think there will always be a place for print books, Peppard is unsure of what the future holds.
As far as Peppard’s future, however, she has already set goals for when she makes the leap from New Jersey to South Carolina. She aspires to develop a literacy program, working with either the state or the federal government to secure a grant.
In her leisure time, Peppard said she intends to pursue some endeavors she never had the time to do before, including kayaking, gardening, traveling and painting.
She also would like to learn how to play an instrument, as well as maybe write a book of her own.
“I will not miss the snow,” Peppard said.
However, she does admit that she will miss being in front of a group.
“As much as I entertain the kids, they entertain me,” Peppard said.
In addition to the “buzz,” she said she would also miss the satisfaction of helping a parent or caretaker find a book that’s right for their child.
“It seems like I always come up with something and the parents love it,” Peppard said.
To say her goodbyes to the residents of Haddonfield, Peppard is inviting all patrons to visit her from Monday through Friday for the two weeks prior to her retirement date, to reminisce and share some memories over cookies.
While the library has not chosen a successor, she said it is time for her to “pass the torch,” knowing that whoever the library picks to fill her position “will be wonderful.”
Peppard said she owes her success to those who had supported her along the way.
“I want to say that I will miss our library staff tremendously,” Peppard said. “They are all great friends and energetic, talented people who have been incredibly supportive of the activities in our children’s department.”
Peppard also added that she appreciates all the help of the Haddonfield Friends of the Library and the Haddonfield Library Board of Trustees.
