||| FROM PHIL HEIKKINEN, SOON TO BE FORMER ORCAS LIBRARY DIRECTOR |||
I’m pleased to share that I am retiring as Director of the Orcas Island Public Library as of September 30. It’s been my favorite of five jobs in the profession (minus a few moments here and there!), almost exactly half of them here on Orcas. I will have served for 17 years plus 17 days on my last day as Director.
My retirement is actually a gradual process, in that I will be continuing on as a part-time consultant through the end of the year to help move the Library through this transition period, and to finish a few pesky items on my to-do list.
I won’t enumerate all of my years here; however, just to highlight one project, it’s difficult for me to imagine how we got by without the building expansion that we completed in 2017, more than doubling our indoor public space.
The past 18 or so pandemic months have not been quite as fun; however, the Library does hope to restore more if not all of our previous number open hours if/when possible sometime during October. And we keep working on making our outdoor spaces more inviting and useful, as many of us continue to spend more of our time outside.
I don’t plan on a major event in celebration. However, I do want to thank the staff, volunteers, trustees, friends of the library, and community members for your ongoing support and interesting conversations. Thank you! I’ll be around, so perhaps we will cross paths before too long.
Sorry to lose you, Phil, but I highly recommend retirement, and I hear Orcas Island may be a great place to retire to. Thank YOU!
Good fortune Phil…and thank you for your considerable contributions to the library and greater Orcas community through the years. It was a pleasure to serve as a Library Trustee during your tenure as Director. I wish you well, enjoy retirement!
Oh Phil. I have so many wonderful memories of how welcomig you were when I first arrived on the island 16 years ago. The library was and continues to be my anchor. I will certainly miss you. Thank you for always making OIPL books and beyond. ; )
Congratulations Phil! Your tenure is full of amazing accomplishments that benefit our community. Thank you!
Thank you, Phil! The library is our very favorite place on the island, hands down. On top of that you went out of your way to keep our family of five supplied with lifeblood (aka library books) during our interminable lockdown. We’ll never forget it. Enjoy your retirement!
Phil, congratulations on your upcoming retirement, and thank you so much for your warm-hearted service to our community for so many years! The library will not be the same without you there.
I will miss you, Phil; what a loss for the library. It’ll be hard to fill your shoes. You always welcomed us to come into your office with whatever ideas, questions, or concerns we had – your open mindedness, calm, and listening always made me feel welcome. I appreciate all you did for the library and for this community and am sorry to see you g, but happy that you’ll be around and out in the community and I hope we see you and that you continue to be a vital part of our community..
Is that wonderful painting featured at the top of Phil’s farewell as our library director done by Peter Carlson?
Two big losses at the library in one month. So sorry we won’t experience your friendly face and helpful nature at the library (our family’s second home), Phil, but are so grateful for your work and dedication and your support of the literary programs and events we helped to organize. You gave them a home and that made all the difference. I look forward to hearing how you enjoy retirement.