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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 23, 2008 - 3 Chief librarian closes chapter By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER `THE LITTLE BIG BOSS': Retired Oakville Public Library chief Eleanor James was honoured for her years and contributions to the library. Most residents use the library and the service is the most valued in town. t age 27, Eleanor James came to work at the Oakville Public Library. It was 1971. That was the year the groundbreaking television show All in the Family first aired, the prolific suspense author Robert Ludlum wrote his first book called The Scarlatti Inheritance, the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar first opened on Broadway and the computer firm IBM introduced the floppy disk. The television show lasted until April 1979, Ludlum died in 2001, the play's life has been sporadic, closing and being revived over the years, and the floppy disk is now extinct. But as they have gone by the wayside, James has been a stalwart at the library even with the addition of a husband, in 1969, and two children (a son in 1974 and daughter in 1976), rapid technological change and tonnes of construction. Armed with a Masters in Russian from the University of Waterloo and another in library sciences from the University of Western Ontario, her career escalated from reference librarian when she first joined 36 years ago, to manager of support services, to administrative assistant in 1977 (surviving the reconstruction of Central Library in 1982) and finally to becoming the library system's chief executive officer in October 1984. At 63, James just retired last December after spending 23 years at the helm. A celebration of her work, achievement and affable leadership was held recently. About 150 friends, family and colleagues, who all count themselves fans of the longtime CEO, filled a Holiday Inn Oakville-Centre party room giving James a standing ovation and plenty of well-deserved A applause throughout the evening. The span of James' career was an exciting time to be a young professional librarian because automating systems were coming to the forefront, laying waste to card catalogue drawers, and librarians were fast becoming cybrarians. "Eleanor didn't allow us to grow stale, she kept us relevant," said Lori Sims, who has worked with James for five years and now fills her role as CEO. "She was a person of great vision who looked at things from 5,000 feet up," she added. The highlights and lowlights of more than three decades include expanding from two to six branches, as well as recession and cutbacks, and reaching the 100th anniversary milestone of library services in Oakville in 1995. Today, out of a local population of 166,000, nearly 73 per cent, or 121,000 residents have a library card. And the library is the single most valued public service in the town, according to a 2004 Citizen's Survey. It garnered a 96 per cent satisfaction rating. "As the single most valued service in this town, you are just as highly valued," Mayor Rob Burton said of the diminutive James, who was known as `the little big boss.' "You have left a mark on our hearts, to be honest and respect all persons," said the current chair of the library board, Maria Robinson. James said that while it was difficult to know when to retire, she considered it a signal from above that now was the time to be quiet when she contracted laryngitis for only the second time in her life, on the very morning of the retirement party, "We do serious work for a serious purpose. You have all contributed to all of the achievements listed in my name," said James, who said she also owes a great debt to her family for all of their support and sacrifices through her career. CALIFORNIA & PLANTATION SHUTTERS Shop at Home Service FREE SHUTTERS ETC.