By Ellie Smith
Features Editor
When most students think of the library at WA, they think of the familiar face they see each time they enter. Whether it be a research paper or project, librarian Elaine Pietras is always there to help students find the information they need.
After 34 years working at WA, librarian Elaine Pietras is retiring at the end of this year. Pietras has been working as a librarian for a total of 36 years. She previously spent one year working as a high school librarian in Penacook, N.H. and one year at the Education Library at Boston College.
Pietras attended the University of Lowell, majoring in Sociology and Secondary Education. Before starting college, she originally planned to become a high school history teacher.
While attending college, Pietras worked at the Pollard Memorial Library in Lowell, assisting in the Inter-Library Loan Department of Reference and Circulation. The job introduced her to a possible career as a librarian.
After considering her options, Pietras decided to become a librarian because of her interest in finding information and helping students in the library.
“I really enjoy the challenge of finding information, as well as helping students and individuals solve their information problems,” said Pietras. “It’s like solving a big puzzle.”
After deciding to become a librarian, she attended the State University of New York at Albany to receive her master’s degree in Information Science.
In her experience as a librarian, she has most enjoyed working with the students and faculty to help them find the information they need.
“The best part of being a Library Media Specialist at WA is working with great students and teachers all day long,” said Pietras. “Our students are very committed to doing their best work and the faculty and staff are dedicated and enthusiastic professionals. It has been such a pleasure to work here.”
Since she first started working here in 1980, Westford academy’s library has changed significantly over the years. In WA’s early years, the library only had books and printed magazines. According to Pietras, technology has become “a necessity in today’s education.”
Today’s library provides students with multiple online resources as well as books.
The biggest change she has been through while working at WA is moving the library to the second floor during renovations in 2000. The library faculty encountered many challenges having to move the books and equipment from the old library on the first floor to a temporary library in the gym and then finally moving again to the second floor.
Librarian Suzanne Harde has worked with Pietras for the past four years and says she will miss her positive presence in the library everyday.
“Mrs.Pietras is a kind, intelligent person who is easy to work with. She has been a wonderful mentor and friend,” said Harde. “I will miss her guidance, her positive attitude and her enthusiasm.”
Pietras is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends as well as doing various volunteer work throughout her retirement.
Though Pietras looks forward to the activities she will participate in during retirement, her depart from WA is bittersweet. as she will miss the students and facultythat she has gotten to know over the past 34 years.
“[I will miss] the spirit and energy of its’ students, our outstanding faculty and staff, and our very supportive administrative team,” said Pietras. “I will miss Westford Academy very much!”
