Regular users of Henleaze and Westbury libraries have long been used to seeing warm and friendly faces behind the desk when they pop in, but one such friendly face will no longer be there to greet them with a smile.
After over 40 years with the library service, first as a library assistant and then becoming supervisor at both libraries in 2016, Megan Vowles finished her last chapter at the end of July and is now looking forward to whatever stories and adventures retirement brings.
Her last day was celebrated by staff with many cards, gifts and balloons and Megan admitted: “I was totally spoilt. It was quite overwhelming”.
She will certainly be greatly missed by staff, with one colleague remarking: “It’ll be very strange not having Megan around any more. She’s always been so supportive of us all, so easy to talk to and what she doesn’t know about the library isn’t worth knowing!”
It isn’t only the library staff who will miss her. One customer said of her: “She has always served the people of the area so well. She has gone way beyond her job description in helping people with a smile and assistance, particularly supporting many people with their various challenges. It is unusual for her to walk down Henleaze Road or through Westbury village without someone recognising her and saying hello, and she almost always knows the name of these people. She will be greatly missed by the community.”
Megan has seen many changes in libraries over the years. She recalled how, when she started in 1983, “we used the Browne issue – little cards slotted into the front of books that were removed and popped into a cardboard library ticket when a book was borrowed. Of course, we date stamped the books then too! Communication was by phone or letter. Now the library offers so much more – we’ve gone digital with public computers, e-books and magazines and a variety of clubs”.
Asked what she will most miss, Megan was quick to reply:”It sounds like a cliché, but I will miss the people. Not only my amazing team but the library users too. I have seen two generations come through – children who visited in my early working days are now coming in with their children. When you’ve known library users for years and celebrated their good news with them, seen some come through poor health or pop in regularly for a chat, you see the value of having a library in the local community. It’s been a privilege to be part of that”.
However, Megan won’t be putting her feet up with a good book too much though. “I have no definite plans for the future, but I love serving at my local church and am a big walker so will enjoy doing more of both of those things. Plus I have lots of friends filling up my diary with coffee dates. I live locally, so you will still see me around.”