BUPL announces appointment of new CEO/Chief Librarian

By Terry Fleurie Staff Writer

Eganville –Acting CEO/Chief

Librarian Susan Artymko has been appointed the new CEO/Chief Librarian for the Bonnechere Union Public Library (BUPL), Her appointment, which took effect December 10, was announced last week by the library board.

Mrs. Artymko joined the staff last April to fill the role of former CEO/ Chief Librarian Nikolina Likarevic, who left on maternity leave. She was originally scheduled to hold the position of Acting CEO/Chief Librarian until April 2022, however, Ms. Likarevic informed the board she would not be returning next spring because her husband, who is in the armed forces and posted at Garrison Petawawa, has been posted to Toronto.

Mrs. Artmyko applied for the position once the board posted the notice internally after receiving Ms. Likarevic’s resignation. It was an easy choice to make after being so impressed with the organization.

“I’ve learned that this library provides such a fabulous resource for this community,” she remarked. “People love coming here; they come for the public access computers.

“The staff here has been so amazing and welcoming to me and all the other patrons,” she added. “It’s a real community hub in this town, and all the things that we do. Especially in December, we had the Angel Tree up, we had a patron that decided to sell Christmas trees on our behalf, and just the feeling of love and support for this library has been really incredible.”

She said the board has been pleased with her work over the past sevenand-a-half months and they were hoping she would apply for the permanent position. She noted that during her original interview for the acting role, she was asked if she would be willing to stay longer if an extension came along.

“I said yes, because my temporary position was supposed to end in April when the former CEO was going to be coming back after her mat (maternity) leave. But just in case things changed or a new position opened up, they did ask if I was flexible enough to extend it.

“And obviously I said yes because I live in Renfrew County and it’s been great having work in my field in Renfrew County,” she added. “So the timing just happened to work out really well that I’m able to stay and I really want to stay.”

Mrs. Artymko previously worked in the library at Fellowes High School in Pembroke and she had eight years experience, four as chair, on the board at the Barry’s Bay Public Library, so she was familiar with both sides of the operation. When she came on board, BUPL was preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary, but many of the hoped for activities had to be cancelled or delayed due to COVID.

“But we did have the 50th anniversary on-line auction, which was a great success, and we had another one in November, which was another success. We did forgive everyone’s fines and fees from the beginning of time up to our anniversary date in May.

“We were hoping to do more, but with the restrictions, we weren’t able to,” she added. Glad To Re-open

Mrs. Artymko said the library was not allowed to re-open until June 30, which seemed like forever for the staff and patrons.

“We couldn’t wait to re-open to the public. Some bigger libraries that have more infrastructure were waiting about a week because they had to figure out staffing and how they would actually re-open.

“But the staff was here in the building anyway and as soon as we were allowed to open our doors, I said we were opening our doors the first day the Ontario government let us open,” she added. “We were excited to welcome the public back. I think they really wanted to come back.”

She feels the numbers of patrons returning are comparable to the numbers 18 months ago and staff are back to their normal schedules.

“We’re not open full hours yet. We haven’t been open full hours since March of 2020. But I’m hoping January 2 we’re going to be open our full regular hours which are six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

“And we’re going to have a few evening hours too. We’re hoping to be open until 8 p.m. three nights a week.”

In-person programming resumed at that time and program co-ordinator Bee Stillar had the Youth Hang Out program going again once school resumed in September.

“The kids were so happy to get back in the library, just to be in person. And obviously, we’re following all the safety protocols. You can just see all the fun these kids were having just getting back to the library, which they had missed for about a year.”

BUPL is a partnership between Bonnechere Valley and North Algona Wilberforce townships. It is a good relationship but it can be a bit challenging at times, she said.

“Most libraries only have to deal with one municipality. But in the last seven months I’ve been here, we’ve had really good support from both municipalities. We have a representative from each municipality on the board and they’re very active with providing us with ideas and feedback.” Going forward, she said it’s very important to keep the lines of communication open and to keep reinforcing the value of the library in Eganville with both municipalities.

Looking Ahead Mrs. Artymko said in her first few months on the job, she found herself looking at the long-term plan, then realizing she might not be here longer than the one year period.

“In this kind of position, you want to plan long term. I want to make sure we have the right technology as the computers start to get older. You want to think about replacing them. Right now, the photocopier is showing signs of its age, so you want to replace that.

“And just continuing with partnerships with different places in Eganville and working with the staff, which is wonderful here, keeping up everyone’s morale and positivity,” she added. “And continuing to serve the public.”

She noted Renfrew County is not a big place, so having the opportunity to have the position close to her home in the Barry’s Bay area is great. She said in small towns there are not a lot of community centres, so libraries tend to be the place where people come to gather.

“We do have patrons who are here every day. They like to come and sit at the public computers, and some of them like to have a little chat because there’s no where else to go really.”

Mrs. Artymko said being hired full time is good news any time of the year but it’s an added bonus in the Christmas season.

“It’s great to know I have a little bit more stability and that I’m not going to be looking for a job in the new year,” she said. “I love it here. I’m really happy that I can stay and the staff have been really good and welcoming, and the board are really easy to work with too.

“And even the community, it’s been really good, the reception that I’ve had.”

Easy Choice For Board Board Chair Judy Sauve said the board is delighted Mrs. Artymko sought the position, adding since taking over as interim CEO the transition was seamless.

“What she has accomplished in the few months she has been here is unbelievable,” she remarked. “She has handled COVID, two on-line auctions, a patron survey and a more general survey for residents, an outdoor book sale, and so many other special activities while getting the actual job of CEO done.

“The staff, the board and the patrons are all delighted to now have her permanently at BUPL,” she added. “It’s not an understatement to say we want her to stay forever.”

Ms. Sauve praised Ms. Likarevic for the great work she accomplished since joining the staff as Technical Officer in 2018, prior to her appointment as CEO in November 2019.

“The board members were always impressed with her accomplishment and skills while CEO and were glad to have her at the helm as BUPL adapted to the pandemic. It was a complex task for a new CEO, but she stayed on top of everything from acquiring PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), to adjusting work projects for the staff to be done at home, to moving to curbside delivery, finding new fundraising methods, and many other adjustments that occurred constantly.

“We were happy for her but sad to lose her on maternity leave, and now that has become a permanent loss with her husband’s new posting to Toronto,” she added. “We wish her well and thank her for all her contributions to BUPL in her time here.”