Award-winning librarian and CEO of the Bruce County Public Library system, Marzio Apolloni, has announced his retirement, effective March 31st, 2012.
Apolloni made the announcement at the regular meeting of Bruce County Council.
He says he’s spent 30 years working in libraries — 23 of those in Bruce County and he feels he should go before someone asks when will he leave.
Apolloni says the Bruce County system is the envy of many and with the great staff that is on board now, it can run itself.
He says for those coming in after him the library must always be in front of the technology that is available to it.
He pointed out the new library cards being issued that come with a pin number which allows users to access the library 24-7.
He says you have to listen to the user who will tell you how they wish to use the system.
Apolloni says he may be gone when he retires but he won’t be quiet.
He says if he senses politicians playing games with library funding he’ll speak out.
He says the worst thing anyone can do when that happens is to remain quiet.
Apolloni points out the Mike Harris years in Ontario when library funding was cut by 40% and nobody said anything.
He has plans, in retirement, to do a lot of fishing but will still work with groups in his community and of course, use his local library.
The chair of the Bruce County Library Board, Huron Kinloss Mayor Mitch Twolan says he knew the announcement was coming but it’s still disappointing to lose someone such as Apolloni.
Twolan says he’ll be a hard person to replace.
