Beloved local children's librarian retires, leaves literary legacy in Anacortes
Readers of all ages bid a fond farewell to local children’s librarian Leslie Wilson at her retirement ceremony held at the Anacortes Public Library on Aug. 31.
The ceremony brought quite the crowd, demonstrating the profound impact valued members of a community can make on young readers and their families.
“Working with Leslie was such a privilege,” Anacortes Public Library’s Teen Librarian Diana Farnsworth said. “I have never met someone who connected with parents and children so much. She knew all of their names.”
“She left a legacy that will live on in her love of reading and learning and making sure every child knows just how important they are,” she said.
Wilson began working at the Anacortes Public Library in March of 2017, giving her around six and a half years of service to the region’s readers.
“I always loved libraries. It’s interesting, I was an English major at UCLA for undergrad and I never considered being a librarian,” Wilson said.
Before finding herself as a librarian, Wilson worked in the nonprofit sector, including work with the California Special Olympics and for the American Red Cross.
“Then I was a stay at home mom for a number of years,” Wilson said. “I didn’t go back to get my bachelor’s until I was 52. So, it just feels like I’m an example of ‘it’s never too late, follow your dreams,’” Wilson said.
While it was never her intention to become a librarian, looking back Wilson said it “makes a lot of sense.” When she made the switch from working in the nonprofit sector to being a librarian, she quickly fell in love with the field.
When Wilson applied for the position at the Anacortes Public Library in 2016, she referred to it as her “dream job.”
“I absolutely love being a children’s librarian,” Wilson said.
When asked what some of her fondest memories are, Wilson stops as she navigates a sea of cherished moments.
“There’s so many!” she exclaimed.
Her favorite aspect about the Anacortes Public Library is how it serves as a welcoming stepping stone into the community through its “Storytime” for kids.
“We have family members in the military, or they may just be new to Anacortes, and the Storytime is just a great way to meet all sorts of people,” Wilson said. “We always start our storytimes with open play, which is really lovely because you just sit around and play with your kids.”
While playtime may not be traditionally associated with the quiet demeanor of a library, Wilson highlights how important the play can be in a child’s development.
“I always say ‘we’re not trying to teach kids to read, we’re just giving them the skills to be ready to be readers when the time is right for them,’” Wilson said.
She has noted that over time, “play” has served a greater role of importance for young children and their development. This development has led to the Anacortes Public Library being the only library in Washington to be a “Family Place” library.
Ultimately, Wilson believes you have to make reading fun for children.
“As a children’s librarian, my passion is just to have kids reading, and whatever it is they want to read,” Wilson said. “They may want to read the same book 10 times over, and I think that’s great. They may want to read only picture books, or only graphic novels or only nonfiction books, and that’s great too.”
The key, she said, is finding something that resonates with the reader.
“The most important thing is just to find a type of book that you love, and continue to read that,” she said. “... The most important thing is to find a book that connects with you.”
Wilson’s story isn’t over with retirement. The beloved local children’s librarian is looking forward to travels to Europe this fall, and she plans to continue volunteer work, promoting literacy for both children and adults.
“I’m looking forward to taking up pickleball and riding my bike more and walking more, and spending time with family and friends,” Wilson said. “Also, coming back for special events with the Anacortes library, because I love it so much.”
Looking back on the outpouring of community support seen at her Aug. 31 retirement ceremony brought tears to Wilson’s eyes.
“It just touches my heart so much to know that my work was so important to so many people, because those relationships that I had with all those patrons of all ages that I got to interact with ... it just means the world to me,” Wilson said.
The Anacortes Public Library has hired a new children’s librarian, who is set to start in mid-September, according to Farnsworth.
Wilson was quick with some words of encouragement for her eventual successor.
“My first word of advice is ‘Congratulations’ because you’re in a fabulous space, and I think that Anacortes is such a unique community,” she said.
