NORTHFIELD — For the first time in two decades, Dickinson Memorial Library will have a new director come July, following the retirement of Deb Kern.
The Selectboard interviewed and hired Misha Storm, current director of the Leverett Library, to take over the helm at Dickinson Memorial Library starting July 6. Kern had announced her retirement after 20 years and 7 months in the role.
Kern said she is excited about her successor’s hiring, and noted that Storm worked part-time at the Dickinson Memorial Library just a few years ago.
“It feels good to have this transition with someone that we know, and that we know loves the library,” Kern said. “I think this is the perfect time for a transition. We’re just re-opening from COVID, so having someone with new visions after we’ve mostly been closed for the year is great timing.”
With the support of her colleagues, the Board of Library Trustees, the Friends of the Dickinson Memorial Library, “and all the wonderful library patrons,” Kern said it has been a pleasure and a joy to work at the library for 20 years. When asked about her favorite memories, she said they have come from working with the people who visit the library, and seeing patrons grow up and navigate different stages of their lives.
“When you stay in one place for a long time, you see these kids who were babies and now they’re graduating high school,” Kern said. “Or you meet them in elementary school and they’ve come back when they’re sophomores in college. On the other end, you meet people on the other end of their lives. These wonderful patrons — some of whom passed or moved away.”
Aside from relationships with patrons, she said this past year amid the COVID-19 pandemic has also been memorable in its own way.
“To close down at the drop of a hat and pivot — the word most used this year … To work this whole year to help parents who were home schooling and keep people entertained was an amazing challenge,” Kern said. “We’re not doctors, but we’ve contributed to people’s well-being during this time.”
During the latest Selectboard meeting on June 1, library trustee Deb Potee introduced Storm for consideration for Kern’s position. Potee said a search committee met with multiple candidates, ultimately recommending Storm who “rose above everybody else.”
Storm received master’s degree in library science from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in art history from the University of Houston. In addition to her experience at the Leverett Library, Storm has worked at the Greenfield Public Library, the Hatfield Public Library and even the Dickinson Memorial Library in Northfield in the past.
When asked why she was interested in the director position in Northfield, Storm noted how she worked at the library a few years ago and “fell in love with the town and library.” She and her husband, Ryan, also lived in town for a year before buying a house in Greenfield.
“I love that the library is a community center, and I look forward to making it more so, more of a place to be,” Storm said during her interview with the Selectboard.
Mentioning Northfield’s diverse community of library patrons, Storm said such diversity will translate to searching for a wide variety of titles and genres when seeking out new library items.
“I know that this community reads widely and there’s lots of different people, because I’ve worked in the library and I’ve seen who goes in the doors,” Storm said. “I also think that this town is a little more invested in the programs at the library. The attendance at Northfield programs is higher than I’ve seen in other towns, so I look forward to keeping that going, too.”
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.