Note: Diane Stuver is the Editor’s Mother.

Diane Stuver, longtime Head Librarian at Henry Malley Memorial Library in Broadus, retired last week after nearly 44 years of service to the community.

Stuver began working at the library in June of 1977. She was originally hired to work from 7 PM to 9 PM, four days a week. In those days, the library kept longer hours than it does today, as Belle Creek was going strong and the county’s population number was 67% higher than today.

Diane first worked with Isabel Williams and her daughter Loyce Cossitt, with Isabel retiring in 1979. Stuver’s hours would expand over the years, as well as her responsibilities.

Eventually June Ray would be hired as a Library Aide in 1988, and Loyce would retire in 1993, with Stuver then taking over as Head Librarian.

Stuver tells us that one of the biggest changes in the library she’s seen is in the area of technology. For many years, the library used paper checkout cards and the old school card catalog. In the 80’s, the interlibrary loan program began, allowing libraries from across the nation to share books from their collection through the mail. Stuver says this was a wonderful service for smaller libraries operating on limited budgets.

In 2008, the library began the process of automating the catalog, with every one of the 15,000 books in the library receiving barcodes. The titles were all uploaded to the Montana Shared Catalog in 2012. This is, in essence, an online card catalog, showing whether the book is on the shelf, as well as the bibliographic record of the book. The shared catalog also allows patrons to look up the entire collection online. In addition, 177 libraries around the state share their collections on the catalog, which allows patrons to look up books they want to read, and have it sent to Henry Malley Memorial Library through the interlibrary loan program. The Shared Catalog libraries include not only public libraries but also school, academic, medical, and specialty libraries.

In the fall of 2012, Henry Malley Memorial Library joined Montana Library to Go, a digital service which provides an option for patrons to download digital audio and e-books.

These changes came about due to the addition of computers to the library, which began in the early 1990s. Henry Malley Memorial Library received over $8000 in grants for computers, printers, and peripherals from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This program, set up by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, helped libraries around the United States set up the new buzzword at the time – the internet.

Stuver said it was a good day when the library updated from a dial up connection to DSL service, which the library started as soon as Range made it available.

Through all the changes in technology, the hard copy book has persevered, Stuver mentioned. Many readers continue to frequent the library, bringing home hard copies of books to enjoy.

We’ve heard numerous times over the years how Diane has a special insight into the books a patron will enjoy, recommending certain authors and titles, with the patron then returning for more of Stuver’s excellent recommendations.

Stuver plans to enjoy her retirement, especially now that she has more time to enjoy one her passions, for she is a voracious reader.

Taking over for Stuver as head librarian is June Ray. June has worked for years building the library’s Story Time into a popular and well attended program for area youth, while she also collaborates with the school each February on their reading program.

Barb Mitchell has come on as an Assistant Librarian, which Barb says is a good fit, as she loves to read and work with the community. Barb mentioned how much she had learned from Diane during training: “Diane is an absolute wealth of information.”

We wish Diane the best in all her future plans and travels. Love you, Mom.