Myers named Citizen of the Year

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- At the Monday, Aug. 27 meeting of the Bloomfield Board of Aldermen, a city employee was given a pleasant surprise.

It's doubtful that anyone who has visited the Bloomfield Public Library in recent years has done so without being greeted by Linda Myers.

Myers, who has served as librarian since 2005, has always had a great passion for books.

Prior to taking the position as librarian, though, Myers was employed by Bennett and Boothe Management and helped to manage, prepare payroll and place orders for 37 Pizza Huts.

After 10 years in that business, Bill Bennett retired and her job was eliminated.

Left without work, Myers scoured the newspaper looking for jobs. That's when she came across an ad saying the City of Bloomfield was looking for a librarian.

"I've always loved to read even since I was little," Myers said.

When she was hired for the position, the library was a far stretch from what it is now.

"When I came here, the library was two little rooms with four computers," she said. "Now we have expanded to six rooms with 12 computers."

Several years ago the library began offering knitting and crocheting classes. The classes have grown every year and made a much larger surge last year.

"Making your own things is cool again," Myers said.

The library then began offering beginning computer classes that have also been quite successful. Another session of those is beginning on Sept. 14. Classes will run every Friday for about five weeks.

Myers also helped to get the summer reading program off of the ground.

"It's been so good that this year we're thinking about putting together an October story hour as well," she said.

As time passes, Myers said she continues to see changes in the future for all libraries.

The e-book movement has taken hold in many areas, and Bloomfield has been no exception.

"A lot of people got Nooks and Kindles for Christmas last year, but with the economy the way it is, a lot of people have decided they can't afford to buy the books for them," Myers said. "I think sooner or later we'll reach a point where we offer e-books, but I believe there will always be a demand for print."

Myers was quite surprised last week when she was named Citizen of the Year.

"They did a good job of keeping it quiet," she said, adding that she was very honored by the commendation.

The award was the third that the city has presented in as many years.

Myers lives in rural Bloomfield with her husband, Bud Myers.