(L-R) Huntington Public Library Assistant Director Amanda Loiselle and Director Heather Dunfee. (Photo by Amy Porter)
HUNTINGTON – Huntington Public Library’s Director Heather Dunfee has spent the past year since replacing former director Margaret Nareau, who retired after 35 years, evaluating the systems in the library. Recently, Dunfee announced that the hours for the library would be changing beginning Sept. 1.
“We want to make sure the hours are advantageous to the people using the library, and found Friday and Saturday late days were not being used,” Dunfee said.
She said the new schedule would offer more evening hours during the week, and morning hours on the weekends. The new hours, beginning Sept. 1 will be Mon. – Tues. 2 to 5 p.m., Wed.-Thurs., 2 to 8 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We’re giving people one month’s notice. It makes sense to start with the new school year,” she said.
Dunfee, of Westfield, worked for six years at the Ely Public Library at Westfield State University immediately before joining the Huntington Public Library. She has a BA degree in English with a minor in French from Bates College (Maine) where she worked as a library assistant at Ladd Library. She also has a Master of Arts degree in English from King’s College, University of London (England), as well as Postgraduate Certification in Education from The Institute of Education, University of London (England). Dunfee said she worked as an elementary and high school teacher in the UK for some years before returning to New England, where she now lives with her husband and four children.
Dunfee said she is enjoying coming back to a small town. “I’m from a small town in Maine, smaller than Huntington, the place where Maine’s first municipal library was established in 1855. I’ve always had an ambition to be a librarian,” she said.
Dunfee called Huntington in particular, “fantastic.”
“It’s a joy to drive up the river. People in Huntington are unfailingly approachable, polite, and enthusiastic; really, really kind people,” Dunfee said, adding, “It’s fun working at a public library. There are all different things that people need, and different people coming in every day.”
Dunfee said she especially likes telling people about opportunities at the library, including the free intra-library exchange in Massachusetts. She said she will also go beyond the state hunting books down for people, although any postage due is the burden of the patron. “I never have not been able to find a book,” she said.
She and assistant director Amanda Loiselle have also created a brochure promoting museum passes available at the library. Passes include free admission to the Clark Art Institute, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Springfield Museums at the Quadrangle, the Zoo in Forest Park, Smith College Museum of Art and the Berkshire Museum, and discounted admission to the Norman Rockwell Museum.
The Library sponsors a summer reading program and many other events throughout the year.
Upcoming events include:
Aug. 8, 2:30 p.m. – Ed the Wizard Balloon Alien Twisting Workshop
Aug. 14 – Turn in Reading Logs from the Summer Reading Program
Aug. 17, 11:30 a.m – End of Summer Reading Program Party and Raffle Drawing
Aug. 21, 6 p.m. – Mark Moomaw Jackson Pajama Party (animations with show for ages 2-5, wear pajamas!)
Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m. – Friends of the HPL Meeting (open to everyone, actively soliciting new members)
Aug. 28, 6:30 p.m. – Lego Club (ages 6-infinity)
Sept. 18, 6:30 p.m. – Friends of the HPL Meeting (open to everyone, actively soliciting new members)
Sept. 21 – Friends of the HPL Booksale. Donations are welcome, please drop them off by Sept. 18.
Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m. – Lego Club (ages 6-infinity)
Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m. – Agawam Paranormal Society “Ghostology 101” with Rob Goff
Dunfee said her favorite part of working in Huntington is having conversations with people about their interests or needs, and “observing the stability, continuity and community the library provides people of all ages whether they come in for a book, dvd, newspaper, computer use, bathroom, or free chilled water and candy.”
