After 17 years in this district, Hempfield Area High School’s librarian, Mrs. Owens is resigning. Only spending 2 years traveling between West Point, East Hempfield, and Bovard, Mrs. Owens has spent the largest chunk of her career, 15 years, being a librarian here at the high school. She claims one of her biggest accomplishments is helping “make this space more welcoming and inviting for kids so that they want to be here.”
The Hempfield Area High School library has become an important resource and outlet for students. Mrs. Owens has worked to expand the fiction collection, as well as add many contemporary authors and books. She claims as one of her proudest achievements that “there is something here for everybody, whether you’re interested in automotive repair, or you just love a good romance novel.” The library also creates opportunities for students who may not fit in a “set category” somewhere else. There are chances to join the Westmoreland Interscholastic Reading Competition, become a library assistant, or participate in monthly book club discussions.
Thinking back on the years, Mrs. Owens says “it’s the little things that made the days really good.” She reminisces on laughing hysterically with friends on lunch breaks, winning WIRC competitions, or having book club with the kids. After leaving the library behind, Mrs. Owens will especially miss her library assistants, the kids who are in the library every day for study hall, and her friends that she works closely with.
“One of the hardest things” about resigning, says Mrs. Owens, “is leaving WIRC.” However, she indicated that students would be in the capable hands of Mr. Cullen, who will now sponsor the team. Mrs. Owens is also going to volunteer to be a moderator and scorekeeper for the reading competitions at Seton Hill University. Along with volunteering, one of her big goals is to travel a lot with her family. On a simpler scale, she plans to make things at home calmer and run more smoothly.
Mrs. Owens has learned a lot as she has “grown up” at Hempfield Area. She says, “although you lose people, and people come in and out of your life – there are no guarantees. So, I don’t want to wait until I’m retirement age to focus on my family and see the world. I have the opportunity now, so I’m just taking it while I can.”
We wish Mrs. Owens all the best as she explores the world of Greensburg and beyond.
