Library director closes book on long career

When Emily Tish was in high school, she made her spending money by drawing summer reading posters and cleaning up the reference room for her mom at the Oneonta Public Library.

Her mom, Ruth Estes, worked for 10 years at the Oneonta library before earning the director position, which she then held for seven years. Estes retired at age 70. Now Tish, her daughter, is retiring after more than 12 years as the director of the Trussville Public Library, also at age 70. She’s following in her mother’s footsteps.

“Well, I have some big shoes to fill, and I’m happy to do it,” Tish said.

Before her hire as the Trussville Public Library director in September 2008, Tish spent nearly six years at the Oneonta library. Before that, she spent her professional life in music education. She earned her library sciences degree while working at the Oneonta library, through a grant from the Alabama Public Library Service. When the Trussville director position came open, “I thought I’d give it a shot,” Tish said. “The rest is history.”

“I’ve loved every minute of it,” she said. “It’s been a great, great end of a great professional career, so I’m very pleased.”

Tish’s key task when she was hired was to oversee the expansion of the Trussville Public Library. When the economy experienced its downturn shortly after her hire, that project was delayed.

“We kept plugging away,” she said.

Eight months of renovation and expansion to a now more than 25,000-square-foot library finished in April 2018. Prior to the renovation, the library was 12,500 square feet, which included circulation and meeting rooms. No wall the original space is circulation for children, teens and adults — a 25 percent increase in circulation space from the previous layout. Seating is available throughout the space, including 18 high-top laptop stations, adult and teen computer labs, and private glass rooms for studying and personal computer use.

A coffee and vending area connects the old space with the new wing, which features a 250-seat auditorium, a second circulation desk, a 12-seat boardroom and meeting rooms for 30 or 50 people, to be used for free by community groups and nonprofits. The library also added a Friends of the Library bookstore on site.

“I have to say, it’s pretty fabulous,” Tish said. “It’s worked out great. Even during the pandemic, my staff has been working even when we’ve been closed. They come to work every day.”

Before deciding to retire, Tish wanted to ensure the expanded library was up and running and was fully staffed. She’s done that.

“I think it will move on great,” she said. “I’ll miss it.”

Tish has recommended her assistant director, Jason Baker, to the Trussville City Council to replace her as director. Baker came to Trussville from UAB’s Lister Hill Library. He first served in Trussville as the adult services librarian.

“He’s been an outstanding assistant director,” Tish said. “He’s great at what he does. He has an extensive background. That really is the basis of a fine library, is the staff. I can sit here all day and think how wonderful I am. It doesn’t matter a thing if I don’t have a great staff filling those positions. That’s what makes this library work.”

Tish has spent time as a member and president of the Trussville Noon Rotary Club and has served in all offices of the Alabama Library Association, including president.

“I am a real people person,” she said. “I just love working with folks. That’s been the greatest part of this, working with my staff, and my Friends group has been so super and so supportive in everything we’ve done. That has been one of my greatest joys, working with people of the community and with the Friends of the Library. It’s been a wonderful part of this job.”

Tish admitted that a tear or two would be shed on her last day at the library, but she would return to visit often.

“I’ll miss my folks, so I’ll have to come by and get some books and see everybody, see what’s going on,” she said. “I’ll have to do that because I’ll miss them so much.”

As for retirement, Tish has big travel plans. Her husband, Steve, was a Marine Corps recruiter when they married, so they lived all over the United States, from Pennsylvania to Pensacola, from Virginia to San Diego.

“I love visiting all around the country,” Tish said. “I’ve always said to be a citizen, everyone should every 10 years have to make one of those trips, coast to coast. Get in the car and go see it because you just won’t believe it if you haven’t been out to see it.”

She wants to go back to Gulf Shores to visit the white beaches. The big trip, the one she has long dreamed of? The Grand Canyon. Fittingly, Tish said, “That’ll be one for the books.”

“I’ve got a lot of fun things to look forward to,” she said. “And, of course, I love to read, so I’ll be reading all my favorite authors. I can’t wait.”