By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT — Dozens of people helped Deborah Zingaro close the book on a lengthy Conneaut Public Library career, while welcoming her successor, at a reception Friday afternoon in the library’s community room.
Zingaro, the library’s director for 19 years, is retiring and will be replaced by Kathy Pape, who steered the Kingsville Public Library the past five years.
The turnout for Friday’s farewell party was gratifying, Zingaro said. “It’s wonderful,” she said.
Zingaro will help Pape become acclimated to her duties for the next few days, then will take accrued vacation time before officially departing on July 1.
Pape said she is excited about her new job.
“I’m obviously going to be learning something new,” she said.
With Zingaro’s help, Pape is meeting the staff and being introduced to the library’s patrons, Pape said. The transition should be smooth: The Kingsville and Conneaut libraries have similar operating systems, she said.
Also attending the reception was Mariana Branch, who will succeed Pape in Kingsville. The job is Branch’s first in the field, but she is no stranger to the local library. She worked as a volunteer and was a member of Kingsville’s Friends of the Library.
“The library integrated me into the community,” said Branch, who arrived in the area a few years ago. “This is a great opportunity.”
