When entering Ogden Farmers' Library, one finds a quiet hub of activity; people, young and old, are surfing the Internet in the computer area, children are deciding which books to check out and adults are perusing the newest books available to borrow. Friendly faces behind the library main desk greet patrons. Soon, patrons will no longer see one of those friendly faces as Director Patty Uttaro heads out for new adventures. Uttaro began her career as a librarian in 1996 when she was hired as the youth library services librarian at Ogden Farmers' Library (OFL). "Annette VonDohlen (the previous OFL director) hired me when I was still in library school," said Uttaro. In 1999, when VonDohlen retired, Uttaro became the OFL director. Previously, she worked at the Rochester Public Library and the Gates Library. In February, Uttaro will begin her new position at the downtown Rochester Public Library as the assistant to the director. Her responsibilities will include overseeing the personnel and communications offices as well as the Monroe County Library System website, libraryweb.org. She has many good memories of her time at OFL. All of these memories have a common link - the Ogden-Spencerport community and the OFL patrons. Thinking back over her 11 years at OFL, Uttaro remembers the different ways the OFL staff took part in the annual Spencerport Canal Days festivities. "The staff participated in the annual Canal Days watercraft event and we took second place," Uttaro said. Anne Strang, the children's librarian at OFL, was one of the paddlers on this raft. "This started as a hair-brained scheme. We (the staff) thought we could put together a raft just as good as anyone else. It was a unifying event, with the rest of the OFL staff on the shore yelling and cheering us on," Strang said with a laugh. "Also during Canal Days, we offered an 'I Spy' Spencerport promotion. Children had the opportunity to pick up a brochure that gave 10 facts about Spencerport. Once the children found these facts, they could redeem this list for a free I Spy book," Uttaro said. Uttaro also worked on another special project that originated in a meeting with Helen Moore, a member of the Spencerport Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. "Helen came to me with an idea from the Ogden Historical Committee to produce a book of photos of this area. This book grew out of an outpouring of donations of 2,000 old photographs," she explained. The book, Images of Ogden and Spencerport, was published and Uttaro worked to index and catalog all of these photos which are now located in the town historian's office. The scope of this project grew when Uttaro worked with Spencerport Village Trustee Tim Peer to create the Pathway to the Past walking tour. A grant from the New York Council for Humanities provided the funding to create outdoor photo displays utilizing some of the donated photos. These photo displays were located throughout the Village of Spencerport. The displays were taken down in 2005 due to deterioration from the outside elements, but plans include bringing the tour back but to have the displays made with more weather-resistant materials. Uttaro is proud of the work that she and her staff have accomplished during her 11 years at OFL. "We have grown a great deal in the last 10 years," Uttaro said. Circulation (the number of books borrowed annually) at OFL has almost doubled. "Our annual circulation has increased from 110,000 to 200,000," Uttaro said. Additionally, the number of OFL patrons has grown. "The number of visitors at OFL has increased by 75 percent over the last five years," she said. She lives in Chili with her husband, Cosmo, and two children, Scott, 14, and Elizabeth, 11. "My children grew up here at this library," said Uttaro. Both children are avid readers and, "will miss coming here," she explained. However, Elizabeth is excited to visit her mom at her downtown office. "Elizabeth is looking forward to decorating my new office," said Uttaro. Even though Uttaro does not live in the Ogden-Spencerport area, her involvement and commitment is evident by her community interest in such organizations as the Spencerport Area Chamber of Commerce and the Spencerport Depot and Trolley Museum. Spencerport Chamber of Commerce President Joyce Lobene said, "No one expected Patty to do what she has done. She has brought our country library into the 21st century. Our library is second to none." Lobene describes Uttaro as, "bringing ideas to life. She has embellished this position of library director and she means so much to so many different people. If anyone asked her for help, she helped you. Patty is also responsible for creating the Chamber's website," Lobene said. Ted Rauber, Village of Spencerport deputy mayor and a trustee for the Library Board of Trustees for the Trolley Depot and Museum, echoes Lobene's thoughts. "Patty is resourceful, dedicated and talented. She, along with the other trustees, developed the plan to make the depot a satellite library and set out to make this plan come true. She was instrumental in determining the use of this structure, now and forever," Rauber said. Uttaro is modest about her community involvement. "I fell into my position with the Chamber as Annette's heir and became publicity chair," said Uttaro. VonDohlen was also an active Chamber member. Strang recalled the time she first met Uttaro when they both were in library school. "She was the one in our classes who made the best presentation and who always had the best answer to any question. She was nicknamed, 'the smart lady,' " Strang said. When Strang came to interview for the children's library position at OFL, "Patty was the first person I saw and I said to myself, 'Oh, look the smart lady works here,' " she said. Strang described Uttaro as, "A brilliant woman. She has the ability to look ahead to envision where the library should be and make her ideas come true." She also explained how much the staff will miss her. "Patty took care of her staff and always had our best interests at heart. We will miss her." An afternoon farewell reception was held for Uttaro on February 2, her last day at OFL. Coincidentally, this was also her birthday. The search for Uttaro's replacement has already begun. Strang will act as the interim director until a new director is hired. Leaving OFL was a difficult decision for Uttaro. "It took me three weeks to make my decision," she said. She is looking forward to her new position at the Rochester Public Library and looks at this new adventure as, "challenges on bigger scale. But, I miss the people here, the staff, the patrons and the people of this community." February 4, 2007 |
