Eileen Nightingale closes book on career as Children's Librarian
Eileen Nightingale was offered an opportunity that turned into a 40-year career as a Childrens Librarian. Library staff recently held a celebration of her retirement.
By News Channel NebraskaSIDNEY -- The Sidney Public Library recently celebrated the career of Eileen Nightingale.
Nightingale completed 40 years working in the library as the Childrens Librarian.
"It has been wonderful, frustrating, sometimes. It's been a great place to work, a great place to be with people. It's like I said, it's been, for the most part a wonderful experience. I've been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to have had to work with as many kids as I possibly could," she said.
In her 40 years in Sidney's libraries, she has influenced many childrens lives with her passion for books. On occasion, she has worked with the second generation of her library children. Children she had in story time are now parents bringing their children to the library. She says she has seen at least two generations in her 40 years as Childrens Librarian.
Prior to taking on the role of Childrens Librarian, Nightingale worked as an educator.
"I actually was a special education teacher for six years. I came home for four years; taught special education or learning disabled students. They actually were at the high school level at that time," she said.
She said she was approached by the head librarian when the Childrens library resigned.
"Mr. Brown, the director at the library, mentioned to me that the Childrens librarian was leaving and he asked me if I wanted to apply. So I thought, OK. I'll do that. So, here I am, still here; 40 years later," she said.