For decades, visitors to the Dunedin Public Library have been greeted by two familiar faces whose warmth and dedication helped define the library experience — a legacy that will continue long after their recent retirements.
In July, the library celebrated the milestone retirements of Karen Conrad and Elizabeth White and honored the impact they’ve had over the past 55 and nearly 38 years, respectively.
For both, saying goodbye is bittersweet, as they leave behind decades of cherished memories while looking ahead to making new ones with their families. Yet while they remain confident the library’s future is in good hands, they can’t help but marvel at how much has changed.
“I was hired with a handshake by Ms. Annie Niven,” Conrad said. “She made me a homemade lemon meringue pie. I started out at $1.99 an hour.”
One of the biggest changes in White’s career was witnessing the transformation of the library in 1996 from the “dark, dreary former Grant’s Department Store building to the bright, welcoming and spacious facility we enjoy today,” she said.
Like librarians across the country, White has also seen the impact of technology transform these public spaces — from free digital resources to foreign language courses, genealogy materials and downloadable eBooks and audiobooks.
“What I love most, however, is that while the library has embraced technology and innovation, it has never lost sight of what makes it special,” White said. “We continue to offer outstanding programming for children, teens, and adults, carefully maintained and current collections, and, most importantly, a hands-on staff that is friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to helping every person who walks through our doors.”
Library director Phyllis Gorshe says White and Conrad have embodied that commitment throughout their decades of service, leaving a lasting mark on the library and the community it serves.
“Karen Conrad’s 55 years of service is a remarkable milestone that reflects decades of dedication, loyalty, and passion for her role at the library,” she said. “Her career began on a handshake hire at the library, which was the previous city hall, a testament to her early commitment and love of the library. Over the years, she has become a welcoming presence at the front desk, known for her warm, professional service to patrons, making the library a welcoming place for everyone.”
White has made exceptional contributions to the library as well, Gorshe says, serving as a reference librarian and a programming librarian who brought authors, speakers and performers to the community. Some of those best-selling authors have included Jim Swain, Carolyn Hart, Marie Bostwick and Debbie Macomber.
“Most recently, as our interlibrary loan librarian, she connected patrons with materials from across the country,” she said. “Liz also anchored our branch library weekly, where her regular presence was warmly embraced by patrons. Her legacy is that of a wonderful teammate and a dedicated worker who truly made the library a better place.”
Some of Conrad’s most fond memories have included seeing generations of families visit the library.
“It just tickles my soul when you watch families come in, watching their children grow, grandparents come in with their grandchildren or even great-grandparents come in with their great grandchildren,” she said. “I’ll never forget this 93-year-old great-grandfather coming up to the circulation desk with his 3-year-old great-grandson, and had a big smile when his great-grandchild showed him how to play a game on the computer.”
In her retirement, Conrad says she plans to spend more time with her own grandchildren, while also volunteering weekly at the Friends of the Library Bookstore.
“I am a woman of faith and also enjoy visiting the sick or elderly, and volunteering,” she said. “All these things bring me much joy and happiness to my heart. I am truly blessed.”
Looking back at her career, White says one of the programs she is especially proud of was the implementation of the first adult summer reading program in Pinellas County in 2001. The program ran simultaneously each year with the children’s summer reading program and featured reading incentives, themed events and an annual luncheon with guest speakers.
White also helped bring the Literacy Council of Upper Pinellas to the Dunedin Public Library in 1999, offering office, training space and materials, along with start-up funding from the Dunedin Library Foundation.
“This created a natural partnership that has benefited countless adults seeking to improve their literacy skills,” White said. “Decades later, that partnership continues to make a meaningful difference in our community.”
While working at a public service desk means seeing people at both their best and most difficult times in their lives, White and Conrad say people often need someone to listen along with a compassionate presence.
“We never know what goes on in our patrons’ lives, and our smiles, a hug, a pat on the hand or other words of encouragement can mean so much,” Conrad said. “These thoughts or words expressed can’t help but bring a smile to their souls.”
After all, White says, libraries are about so much more than books.
“They are places where people come to learn, connect, solve problems and find support,” she said. “It has been a privilege to be part of that for nearly 38 years.”