Hot stylos and happy days
Judith Bates has retired after 47 years with Warwickshire County Council’s library service.
With a career spanning nearly half a century, Judith has seen some big changes since she joined the service, straight from school, in March 1963. There were no computers, for a start, and everything had to be done manually.
Tickets for borrowed books were placed in little brown ‘pockets’ - one for each member and all filed by hand in each library.
Catalogue numbers were etched onto the spines of books using a hot stylus plugged into a light fitting. “That was before ‘risk assessments’ - it wouldn’t be allowed nowadays,” said Judith. “We had to stand on a table to remove the light bulb and plug the stylus in.”
Judith has worked in several county libraries, including Warwick, Leamington and Kenilworth, but she started out in Bedworth as a library assistant. Professional qualifications followed - and a variety of different roles, including eight years with the Schools Library Service and sixteen years as Divisional Children’s Librarian.
Her farewell ‘do’ at Leamington Library, earlier this month, was a lively affair and brought together colleagues from different decades, including two former County Librarians and recently-retired Lynda Burton - who was interviewed for her first library job on the same day as Judith, 47 years ago.
“Judith hasn’t changed at all,” said Lynda. “She is always very positive and upbeat, and has a great sense of humour.”
Divisional Library Manager Tracey Baker said: “I’ve known Judith a relatively short time but I’ve really enjoyed working with her. She is a very good librarian, who can turn her hand to anything, and a really good laugh.”
All the guests talked about Judith’s irrepressible sense of fun. Many spoke of her renowned DIY skills and the screwdriver set so often called into action.
Judith was presented with farewell gifts and made a short speech thanking everyone for coming to her party. “It’s nice to see so many faces from the past,” she said. “On the whole it has been a very happy 47 years and I’ve had an enormous amount of fun.”
Later Judith talked about the future but, apart from some decorating at home, said she had no firm plans as yet. “I really don’t know what I’m going to do now I’m retired,” she said. “I might spend a bit more time at my caravan in Somerset and make more use of the motorhome I bought eight years ago.”
There is no doubt, however, that Judith - with her jolly disposition and ‘can do’ attitude - will be missed by colleagues and library customers young and old.