Marysville says goodbye to librarian

Published 11:22 pm Tuesday, March 4, 2008

MARYSVILLE — Maggie Buckholz is sad to leave her job as Marysville’s managing librarian.

“I’ve developed some really great friendships and relationships in this community,” she said, wiping away tears. “That’s what’s going to be really hard to leave. That’s going to be traumatic for me.”

Buckholz is hardly the stereotypical staid, reserved librarian. The emotion she shows when talking about leaving her job of six years also comes out in her love for her profession and her desire for a new adventure.

At 53, she’s taking a job as director of the Burlington Library in Skagit County. There, she’ll have even more responsibility; she’ll be in charge of a growing municipal library as opposed to being one of many head librarians in the Sno-Isle Library system.

“I’m always looking for something that puts me to the test,” Buckholz said.

She’s been tested frequently in her job in Marysville, especially with people questioning whether the library should offer magazines.

“Every single week, somebody asks me, ‘Why do you have this here?’ ” she said.

A strong believer in the First Amendment, she also is a strong believer in the value of libraries.

“I’m pretty passionate about it,” she said.

She said a study recently showed that libraries return more value to their communities than the money invested in them. An example, she said, are the computers used by many who can’t afford their own.

Often, someone will come in, Buckholz said, and they’ll add: “I’ve never used a computer before.”

“That’s one thing right there that gives the people their money’s worth for libraries,” she said.

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.

Quick reference: Maggie Buckholz

Experience: Six years as managing librarian in Marysville, two in Arlington

Residence: Camano Island

Husband: Mike, teaches history and coaches girls basketball at Burlington-Edison High School

Accomplishments: Checkouts grew from nearly 596,000 in 2001 to 733,000 in 2007; cardholders with Marysville addresses grew from 30,760 to 49,036; successfully pushed for purchase of $55,000 in new library furniture, paid for mostly by private contributions.

Last day in Marysville: Tuesday

Successor: Managing librarian Eric Spencer