Library director takes early retirement after nearly 30 years
Published on November 20th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - For over three decades, Hugh Williams worked among giants. These titans, men and women like William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, and Virginia Wolfe cram the floors and hallways of his workplace. Now after dedicating 27 years to their honor, Williams will leave his life’s work behind.
Retiring this December from his position as Stoneham’s Public Library director at age 53, Williams plans to leave Stoneham and move permanently to his home in Bradenton, Florida. Although he technically needs to work another three years to receive his pension, Williams will take advantage of an early retirement plan approved by town officials last July. Intended to help preserve municipal funding by hiring replacements at a lower salary base, the Early Retirement Incentive permits certain town employees to add five years to their age or years of service--thus allowing them to retire early.
But as town selectman Cosmo Ciccarello points out, Williams’ early retirement will leave a huge void to be filled.
"I’m going to miss him to be honest with you," said Ciccarello, who worked with Williams for nearly 18 years. "It’s going to be very hard to fill his shoes. He’s just a very classy individual…hopefully we’ll find somebody who’s qualified to replace him."
As library director, Williams is responsible for overseeing virtually every aspect of the library’s operations, from ordering the books that line the building’s shelves to hiring and firing employees. Along with an elected six-member library committee, Williams also balances the library’s yearly budget and distributes funding to the library’s various departments.
The veteran director leaves behind a lengthy list of accomplishments that includes doubling the library’s size through construction projects, introducing modern equipment and electronics that gave the library internet capabilities, and bringing the library into NOBLE, a North Shore interlibrary exchange program.
Of these achievements, Williams considers his greatest success to be the construction of the new library-wing. In fact, Williams initially accepted his director position in 1975 in hopes of overseeing the project.
"Trustees were enticing me with a building program," said Williams of his decision to become Stoneham’s library director. "I just didn’t know at the time that it wasn’t an immediate priority for them."
For nearly a decade before the project was completed in 1984, Williams consulted with town officials, solicited funding from private philanthropists, and developed several building plans. Resulting from Williams’ efforts, a new three-floor addition furnished with internet-ready computer stations, open sitting areas, and rows of polished-wood book stacks, now sits adjacent to the old library. The cavernous room features a chapel-like ceiling supported by plush white pillars and decorated by dangling rectangular and cylinder-shaped light fixtures. Lighted further by an enormous six-paneled window, the addition also features a well-stocked reference section and an electronic card catalog.
Although the building-addition marks a tangible sign of Williams’ legacy, those most familiar with the middle-aged librarian speak of other attributes, his organizational and managerial skills, his fine-tuned knowledge of the libraries finances, and an overwhelming enthusiasm for his job.
"Without a doubt he’s the best money manager I’ve ever worked with. He can tell you about every penny that’s been spent in this library over the last 25 years. He just really has a pulse on everything that goes on here," commented William’s current assistant library director, Mary Todd.
Casually walking into the library’s brightly furnished Apalakis Room for November’s library committee meeting, Williams’ knowledge of the library’s happenings is obvious. Dressed in a navy blue suit, white shirt, and blue bowtie, his graying hair neatly combed, he rocks his wooden chair onto its hind legs as he reviews his proposal for the 2003 fiscal year budget.
"In the next two fiscal years, libraries are going to be scaled back significantly. Having been through it a few times, it aint pretty," Williams claimed confidently. "The first thing that goes is Sunday hours…before you cut the bone you trim the preliminary stuff," said Williams, whose last budget proposal totals around $745,000 dollars.
"You sure you don’t want to stick around for a little while longer, Hugh?" asked library committee member Patricia Kilty.
"No I’m getting out of dodge…I’m not buying another wool suit again. In Florida you don’t need a lot of clothes," Williams replied with a grin.
According to Williams’ former assistant library director, Cornelia A. Rawson, people often ignore this light-hearted side of the library director because of the intensity with which he approaches his job.
"I think a lot of people think that he has a cranky personality…but he’s not cranky he just has a strong work ethic…It’s his nature. He’s demanding on himself and his staff. He’s just not satisfied with mediocrity on any level," said Rawson.
Rawson, who worked with Williams for six years, left her position as assistant library director in 1996 to start a family. But after the unexpected death of her child, Rawson found comfort in her previous employer.
"I didn’t have the confidence to do anything, but he prodded me to get back out in the field. I’m now the director of technology for the town of Lexington, and who knows where I’d be if he didn’t push me. That’s why I’m so loyal to him now," an appreciative Rawson commented.
Rawson is not the only person who felt bettered by William’s presence. In fact, both current assistant library director Mary Todd and library committee member Rocco Ciccarello speak of similar situations.
"When the assistant director’s job became vacant he was very supportive of my decision to apply. It just gave me a great boost in my confidence level. He’s helped me professionally develop skills I didn’t even know I had," Todd said of Williams’ influence on her own career.
Speaking along similar lines, Ciccarello also attributes his own enthusiasm for his work to Williams.
"I don’t know if I would have stayed if it wasn’t for Hugh," said Ciccarello. "He’s always taken the burden of responsibility. That fact that he’s so easy to work with makes it a pleasure."
Born in Danvers, Mass., Williams’ traces his exceptional work ethic to his experiences at St. John’s Preparatory High School. It was there, the Stoneham resident claims that he learned the value of hard work from the religious monks who taught in the prestigious high school.
"The Xaverian brothers had the most influence on my character. It was a very competitive atmosphere. I’m from the old school. I believe competition breeds excellence. A young person just has to know the value of hard work and fair play to develop both personally and for his community," said Williams.
Yet another contributing factor to Williams’ professional enthusiasm stems from a genuine love for his vocation.
"You don’t go into this line of work without a lot of reading. When I first got this job, I thought, ‘My god, these people are paying me to be around books’. I thought I had the world by its tail," said the former UMASS Amherst and Simmons College graduate.
Despite Williams’ passion for his job, he feels that the time has come for him to move along.
"I can honestly say that Stoneham has given me the opportunity to fulfill nearly any vision of librarianship that I desired. I’ve done everything one can do in this profession…It’s just a good time to go."
What does the future hold for Williams?
"Well, I have no plans to work. For the first year I’m going to do absolutely nothing and I won’t even start doing that until noontime. I’m a very frustrated musician and I’m also a bad golfer. I also garden a little," Williams suggested with a laugh.
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