The next chapter in Sue Henderson's life could probably best be titled "Puppy Love." After 31 years at the helm of the Parma Public Library, Henderson will retire to her Chili farmhouse and turn her attention to her new eight-week-old collie. Luke, her new collie who has been in to meet the library staff and many of the patrons, will be joining Henderson's two 17-year-old cats and 9-month-old kitten. Henderson plans to make August 20 her last day on the job, leaving at the conclusion of her last Reader's Club Story Hour, an educational children's program that has been one of her crowning achievements. "I wanted to get out of here before I started getting my story hour kids' grandchildren," Henderson joked. The library has been Henderson's central preoccupation for more than three decades. During her watch, it has grown tremendously in volume, changed location and entered the age of technology. Nancy Ingraham, who worked with Henderson when she began in 1972, said Henderson made working at the library enjoyable, and makes it a fun place for Ingraham to continue to frequent. "I can remember when Sue led a bucket brigade of village residents passing books in boxes from the old store front (where Vince's Deli is now located) to the new building," said Ingraham. "She has given just about everything to her job." Henderson's vision has always been focused on the library's patrons. Lola Rae Heinrich, chairman of the library's board of trustees, said the community has recognized Henderson's hard work. "She is truly loved by the people who frequent the library," said Heinrich. Two programs Henderson has spearheaded to benefit the local community are the library's extensive books on tape (CD) collection and book delivery to shut-ins. Those associated with the library said that Parma's collection could be seen as an extension of Henderson's interests. Henderson grew up on a farm in Chili with her parents and two brothers. She graduated from Churchville-Chili High School. She fine tuned her love for music, earning a degree in piano from Eastman Prep and was a double major in English and music at SUNY Fredonia. After Fredonia, she attended SUNY Albany where she received her master's degree in library sciences. Today, Henderson is an avid cook and music lover. Subsequently, the Parma library has an extensive cookbook collection and an array of available music. Rosalind Lipomi, who has been a library assistant for 11 years, said the library's music collection is a draw for people throughout the area. "The community has ended up with a phenomenal collection of music, said Lipomi. "People come from all over to look through our collection." While Henderson has a few strong interests, her passion is working with children. "Books were so important to me growing up, I like to see that shared," said Henderson. "I started alphabetizing my books when I was little. That is a warning sign to parents that their kid should go to school to be a librarian." At the Parma library, Henderson has been able to make reading come to life for her young friends. On a summer afternoon Henderson will lead them on a far off adventure traveling to Egypt, or sailing on the Titanic. The children will get dressed up, act out and help steer where the story is going. Chances are the journey will include the accompaniment of Henderson's guitar and her engaging storyteller voice. Listening in for a minute reminds the parent that one only needs to be young at heart to join in. And Henderson is. "I am still a kid," said Henderson. "I can be as silly as they are at times." Henderson admits that her love of children extended her stay at the Parma Library beyond what she originally had planned. "I would have retired a bit earlier, but a little girl told me how excited she was to finally be old enough to join the Readers' Club," Henderson said, so she gave up what was to be the first summer of her retirement. Henderson said some of her most rewarding professional moments have come watching some of her young readers show their parents what they have learned. While the children's program includes a lot of fun and games, Henderson is seriously interested in the continued success of Parma's library. Henderson is a proponent of expanding the library's facility and is adamant about keeping the library located in the village. "I am really worried that they may someday move the library into the Parma Town Hall," said Henderson. "It needs to stay in the village, near the schools and in the hub of activity." Henderson promises that even while out on the farm tending to her animals and vegetable garden, she will keep the library and the Hilton/Parma community close to her heart. "I look forward to not having to drive what, in the wintertime, seemed to be the longest 20 miles in the world," said Henderson. "However, I can't express how much I will miss my work and the people I have spent so much time with. There is a terrific staff at the library and this has got to be one of the nicest communities in the world." |
