Flocking to new branches

The Dewey Decimal System with its card catalog has formed the basis for consistency at libraries across the globe ever since Melvil Dewey first implemented his system of arranging books, and this system is still in place to this day.
Margie Mealer, who was recently hired as executive director of the Evangeline Parish Library, described how universal this library system is. “For example, the call number for a book on magic is 793.8,” she said. “At every library in the country that uses the Dewey Decimal System, the call number is going to be 793.8. You can come here in Ville Platte, and it’s going to be the same as in the Manhattan Library in New York City. If you’re a library lover, then that makes it really easy to find what you need.”
It is the consistency of the Dewey Decimal System and other areas of the library that keep patrons flocking to their favorite branches. Mealer said that she wants to keep in place the consistencies that are unique to the library system in Evangeline Parish.
“I am not walking into a broken system,” Mealer expressed. “They are doing an excellent job here. We have a good base here, and it’s pretty neat. I know that what’s in place here is great already. I am going to try things, but I’m going to move slow enough that I don’t upset the apple cart.”
“I would like to do historical programs to help the older generation share with the younger generation all of their traditions,” she continued. “There are a lot of ideas that I’m going to look at and see what we can do. Everybody has been really excited and supportive of whatever programs I want to try.”
Mealer, who was hired to replace the retiring Mary Foster-Galasso, began her time in the library system in 1999. “I was living in Glenmora where my good friend Gayle Goldberg was the librarian,” she said. “We were on the PTA together, and we were on the softball league together. She told me that she could always use another volunteer. I started volunteering right away, and I loved the atmosphere.”
The New Jersey native got to Glenmora by way of her husband’s naval career. “My husband Chester was in the Navy when we met, and we moved around every two years,” said Mealer. “When he got out of the Navy, it seemed like we were continuing that tradition of moving every two years.”
She continued, “We had already gone to Glenmora to visit my husband’s brother and his brother’s family that lived there. I told him that if we ever decided that we wanted to try small town living then I wanted to try Louisiana because I really liked Glenmora. We moved there in 1989, and I knew right then and there that we were done.”
Mealer turned her position as a volunteer into a being the substitute clerk for the Glenmora Branch of the Rapides Parish Library. “When an opening came up, I applied and got the job,” she said. “I loved it ever since. I may have been in Glenmora one day and Pineville the next day and Hineston the next day. I loved that because it was exciting and something different everyday.”
She then parlayed the position of substitute clerk into being clerk for the outreach service called Red Carpet Service. “We would bring books to people in nursing homes, people in senior citizen centers, and other people who it wasn’t easy for them to come to the library.”
While working in Glenmora, Mealer earned her degree in library science from LSU. She then became manager of the Red Carpet Service in 2004 and manager of the Boyce branch in 2009. She said, “I left Rapides Parish and started working for the Lincoln Parish Library as head of Children Services.”
Mealer described her time in Ruston as very interesting. “Lincoln Parish has a very active programming schedule,” she said. We did 11 different programs a week, and I did the home school program and the Reading Circles program. I loved having those connections with the kids, and I learned a lot about supervising and helping my team grow.”
While coming from rural areas like Glenmora and Boyce to rural areas like Evangeline Parish, it is hard for Mealer to compare her settings. As she said, “Every system is going to have some procedures that are the same, but every community is unique. I love learning about all of the different communities.”
Even though she will not officially become executive director until August, Mealer is excited about the opportunity of putting into practice everything she has learned about libraries. “One minute I might be dealing with something for the new Chataignier building that’s being built, and the next minute I might be dealing with a staff member who has to leave because of a medical issue, and then the next minute I might be dealing with the summer entertainment.”
Coming from Rapides and Lincoln Parish is also Mealer’s belief in how important strong library systems are to the community. She said, “Not only is the library about getting books, but it’s about getting connections to the information that people need.”
Mealer is also looking forward to getting involved with the local communities in Evangeline Parish. She concluded, “I look forward to being part of the community not only in the library. I plan on seeing the high school sporting events and the festivals. My grandchildren and my children will be coming down on occasion to also see what the area is like.”