After 30 Years, Joan Fox Steps Down as Granby Library Director

The on Thursday played host to a party three decades in the making.

Indeed, about 60 people, including numerous current and former town officials, were on hand last night to celebrate the career of Joan Fox, the director of library services for the last 30 years, who officially stepped down this week; Kelly Marszycki, the new library director, started on Tuesday.

“On behalf of the town of Granby, I want to thank Joan for her 30 years of service … she started when she was five,” First Selectman John Adams quipped.

The big surprise of the evening came when Fox’s son, Travis, and brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Sandy Michalicik, showed up having flown in from California and Oklahoma, respectively.

Fox, for her part, used the forum as an opportunity to extol the virtues of public libraries as well as make a case for their relevance in the 21st century, despite the ever-changing technological landscape.

“We are fortunate to have public libraries in this country,” Fox said. “They’re places where people can come and read and think what they want without judgment and fear. With all the talk about technology and replacing the printed word … [libraries] will exist in one form or another.”

Town Manager William Smith, who hired Fox 30 years ago, said that the town was lucky to have Fox for such a long period of time.

Smith rattled off a litany of achievements that Fox was able to accomplish for the library, including helping oversee its opening and expansion in its current building and securing numerous grants for programs for young students and older residents. Fox also coordinated the four library support groups, worked closely with the board of education on special education programs and moving to Sunday hours, Smith said.

Duncan Rowles presented Fox with a copy of the letter from the former head of the Granby Library Association who in 1983 charged the town $1 for the VNA building where the library was situated before it moved to its current location.

Smith gave Fox a watch, while Lynn Lochhead, the chair of the library board, unveiled a sign that names the back conference room of the library after Fox.

Fox was clearly moved by the gestures.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here,” Fox said.