When Linda Sickles started her career at the Orion Township Library, the building was a small one on Lapeer Road, with only 10 staff members.
Twenty-five years later, Sickles is still there, but now she goes to work in a much larger facility on Joslyn Road, and oversees 40 people.
‘When I first started in Orion, I did everything from counting money to making the schedule and ordering books,? Sickles said. ‘It became apparent very soon the library needed to grow.?
And grow it did, moving to the current facility in 1989.
‘Before our main library was on Lapeer Road, where the Michigan Catholic Credit Union is now,? said Sickles. ‘We also had a small branch in Gingellville.?
Sickles started as Orion director after working as assistant head of adult services at the Rochester Hills Library.
‘The Orion position opened up and I thought ‘maybe it’s time to try my wings,?? she said. ‘I thought the library had a lot of potential.?
Sickles remembers the late Helen Parker, who was then president of the library board, asked her how long she planned to stay.
‘I said as long as there are challenges and opportunities, I’ll stay,? she said.
Sickles is still finding challenges, as the library in recent years has gone wireless with Internet access, and is still battling growth issues.
‘It’s been tremendously rewarding, and every step along this path has been a challenge,? she said. ‘I’d like to see the growth of the library continue, and I want to see it through its next evolution.
‘Space will be an issue…All these computers take up more space than the books. We’re at our limit, electronically,? said Sickles.
As a college student, Sickles intended to become a teacher. She earned her teaching degree in political science secondary education from Eastern Michigan University.
‘It was difficult to find a position,? she said. ‘I’d worked in libraries as a student, and I decided to get my master’s degree in library science.?
Sickles went to Western Michigan University, and worked in the Kalamazoo Library while earning her degree there.
From there, she traveled to Boston and worked in the Tufts Medical Research Library.
‘It was fascinating, but I missed working with the public,? she said. ‘So I came back to Michigan.?
Sickles, who is originally from Bloomfield Township, worked at the Baldwin Library in Birimingham for five years, before working at the Rochester Hills Library for three years.
She still calls Rochester home and has lived there for 18 years.?
‘I worked for marvelous directors who were great inspirations,? said Sickles.
At the time she came to Orion Township, the country was in the beginning of a recession in the late 1970s and early 80s.
‘Schools were operating on half-day sessions,? Sickles said. ‘We knew if we got a millage, we could do more with programs and develop our collection.?
A new building was also a necessity at that time, as more and more people were discovering the library on Lapeer Road.
‘In 1986 we requested a bond issue for the new library, and we bought (the site on Joslyn Road) from the school district,? Sickles said. ‘The voters passed it overwhelmingly, and we opened in February 1989.?
Voters approved an additional half mill in 1992.
‘This has been such a responsive community,? Sickles said. ‘There’s a real spirit here, and it’s nice to be a part of it.?
Part of the driving force behind Sickle’s initial decision to go into secondary education was a desire to have a positive impact on people.
She’s been able to fulfill that dream at the library.
‘I wanted to help them in their daily lives,? Sickles said. ‘To help people read, and to have the ability to obtain information and expand their horizons.?
The addition of the Internet has changed how patrons obtain information at the library, and Sickles hopes to see that expansion of information continue.
‘We have to keep adapting,? she said. ‘Our staff prides itself on service, and in the future we’ll look at more ways to make things more accessible.?
Making the community more aware of the services offered by the library is also a priority for Sickles.
‘Thinking outside the box is such fun,? she said.
The library is going into its 80th year of operation as a public library and Sickles hopes to see the facility expanded in the near future.
‘It’s all based on the economy, and people feeling confident they can take on another obligation,? she said. ‘The library board is trying to decide when to go back to the voters.?
Sickles spends a good portion of her time at the library, but when she is home she enjoys flower gardening, needlework and knitting.
‘And reading of course,? she said. ‘I really enjoy John Grisham and Anna Quindlen. I usually like more suspense, historical fiction and political things.?