Penny Overd Retires From Ascot Heath Library

Penny Overd, hugely popular Branch Superviser at Ascot Heath Library in North Ascot, retires after 27 years, on May 15.

Penny is  extremely well-known locally,  as she came to live in North Ascot when she married, 39 years ago.

As she prepares for retirement and spending more time with family and friends, Penny reflects on her  long service to the library and the North Ascot community:

It all started when she was out pushing the pram and saw a five-hour library job advertised, for evenings and Satuday, which fitted with family commitments. The library itself  came about after Marjory Gunn was overheard on a Bracknell bus, complaining about the trek into Bracknell to change her books.  Penny laughs as she recalls the original portacabin premises, which would give any modern health and safety inspector a heart attack: " The toilet was right beside the kettle and tea cups," she says, "Many a time we were called away from tea- making to a customer, only to have the library filling up with steam!" "The roof used to  leak rainwater, for which we had buckets.!" 

That was in 1982. In 1989, the library moved into the North Ascot Community Centre complex, when it was vacated by Ascot Heath Infant school.

She has seen many other changes in the library! "When I started we had blue and green tokens, for children and adults, which they gave us in return for a book. We didn't know which book they were borrowing!" she explains. "There were carboard wallets for non fiction and then we changed to a computer system about 15 years ago."

"The main difference now is school projects. This used to be a big part of our work - gathering material which we knew the children would need. Now, there is little use of non-fiction by children because of the Internet." "Then came Smart Cards, which Bracknell Forest was the first to issue. We can issue bus passes as part of the Smart Card system and, in many ways, the library now functions as a Council office in the community." "The library used to be all about books and now there are DVDs CDs, Internet access, scanning, photocopying, Craft Activity, Baby Bounce and Rhyme, Dads' Bounce and Rhyme and talks by specialists and popular authors. I think the library has to move with the times, as everyone now is in a hurry. The library is a very important role to play these days and does a lot of outreach work, with this wide range of activites ." "We now have two reading groups - one daytime and one evening. It's not just issuing books now!"

Above: Retirement Cake (made by Julie Deane) which was shared amongst all the  crowd of well -wishers who turned up to Penny's surprise party at the library , on the eve of her retirement.

Asked which of all these roles she particularly enjoys, Penny says she has no favourite as she loves them all!  A particular joy has been to see children grow up, pass through all the school projects and become parents themselves. In 27 years, a whole generation has passed through her hands. There is also the sad side when our older readers, who we ave got so fond of,  pass away." 

Had she ever thought of moving on? "I don't think I would have stayed in one library all that time if the job hadn't kept changing so much. No two days are the same and there is plenty of variety when working with the public" "I couldn't have done it without the staff. They have been wonderful and I am still in touch with all the past members of staff, " she says.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT

Of course, there have been some particularly funny moments: For example, when Penny ordered a book for a friend in the bowls club, in preparation for their skittles evening. He laughed and laughed when he told her that his wife had not been impressed with his book - about the prostitute called Skittles!

And then, there was the little girl who thought she was being helpful when asked to go and get the books stamped  - She innocently placed them on the floor and stamped her foot on them! 

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT 

Penny says she will miss the library enormously (and will be much missed by the library users!)  but she and her husband plan to stay in Ascot because they love the community. They enjoy caravanning, as well as ballroom dancing and short mat bowls, and also look forward to being grandparents later in the year.

Sarah Newman, who has worked at the library for four years, will be Penny's successor.