New library director eager to meet her community

By Caroline Rosacker

The Guttenberg Public Library Board has hired Katey Simon of St. Olaf as the new library director. She will replace outgoing director Katie Beitzel.

Simon grew up in Guttenberg and is the daughter of Mike and Donna Simon. Following graduation in 1996, Simon moved to Clinton and attended the former Mount St. Clare College. "Other than being a regular library patron I really had no other experience in the library field," said Simon. "I was returning some items in June, and Katie told me she was leaving and they were looking for a new director and encouraged me to apply."

Simon, who has an associate's degree — a basic requirement — questioned applying for the position. "At first I questioned my capabilities and came up with reasons I couldn't do the job," Simon shared. "Then I began to think why I could. I changed my thought process and applied! Katie was very encouraging and offered answers to questions that arose. She also assured me there were wonderful resources in place to help if I had any further questions." 

The Clayton County Library Association (CCLA), and State Library of Iowa are available for support. "The support at the state level is great! Eunice Riesberg, our district consultant, will be coming to visit and help me navigate my new role," says Simon. "It is also nice to have the CCLA, especially when I have questions that require answers from a similar-sized library. I am also grateful there is an engaged and knowledgeable Board of Trustees and active Guttenberg Library Foundation."

Simon praised Beitzel for the work she completed while employed as the director. "I am definitely not walking into a mess," she noted. "Katie accomplished accreditation, which will be good through June 2023 and developed a strategic plan which is good through 2025. The existing staff is extremely helpful and are very good at their jobs. Katie left the library in excellent shape for me to take over her position." 

Within two years Simon will need to be certified in Public Library Management I and II. "I am glad the classes are offered online and I don't have to travel to Des Moines," she said. 

From caregiver to librarian

Simon, a big-hearted, adventuresome young woman, embarked on a long journey of service work, helping care for those individuals most marginalized by society, before returning to the Midwest. 

"In 2001 I became involved in the L'Arche community. L'Arche is intentional communities of members with and without intellectual disabilities," Simon commented. "I was a member of that community for 15 years." 

In addition to her employment at L'Arche she became a personal caregiver for a man who had multiple sclerosis. "I cared for him for six years," she shared. "The experience was a huge blessing and sometimes very difficult." 

Simon eventually left the Midwest for service work in Phoenix, Ariz. "I found a shelter called 'Maggie's Place,' which provides housing and support for homeless pregnant women," she explained. "It is a Catholic faith-based shelter. The women could stay there during their pregnancy, and remain there up to nine months following the birth of their babies if they desired."

There are four Maggie's Place homes in the Phoenix area: The Magdalene House in central Phoenix; The Elizabeth House in Tempe; The Michael House in Glendale and The Hannah House in Mesa. "I lived at the Elizabeth House for a year and The Hannah House for six months. I served there for 18 months," she remembered. "I then experienced something called 'Compassion Fatigue.' I was tired of taking care of people, wasn't taking good care of myself and didn't know what to do." 

Recognizing the need for self-care Simon left Arizona and traveled to New Mexico. "I spent a month in New Mexico in a program called After Volunteer Experience sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati," she explained. "The AVE program was developed for women returning from a year or more of volunteer service to help integrate the experience as they explore 'What's next.' The home I lived in was called Casa de Caridad or House of Charity. It was a beautiful space to process and reflect. Sister Janet was the program director and met with me weekly. I was also provided spiritual direction, a retreat opportunity, and wonderful support. I started taking better care of myself. Two to three times a week I went with the sisters across the border into Mexico to help in a center for children with special needs. There was still an element of staying in touch with the marginalized – I could remain connected but not at such a strong level." 

Return to the Midwest

Simon, who is also a Certified Consulting Hypnotist, worked part-time as a paraprofessional at St. Mary Immaculate Conception School (SMIC), looks forward to program planning, understanding the budget, collection management and being of service to her community. "My desire to have a presence and make an impact in my community was the main reason I took the job," she told The Press. "Obviously moving forward into full time employment and reaching my personal goals was also part of my motivation. I enjoyed my position at SMIC School but being a teacher was not my goal. I will still get to see some of the students at the library and will continue as a youth minister at St. Mary, St. Joseph, and Immaculate Conception Parishes." 

Simon is excited to reacquaint herself with the community and begin planning adult programming. "Coming back after 20 years there are still faces that I don’t know. I look forward to meeting my community that I wouldn’t see at church or through youth ministry. I would like to bring programming that stimulates difficult conversations about race, human trafficking and debt, in addition to series programming such as a walking program, locals sharing their life stories and ‘Love and Logic,’” she noted. “I would also like to continue some of the programming that Katie instituted before the pandemic such as trivia night, Scrabble, and bring back the coffee bar. Another new idea is having ‘Soup Saturday’ where patrons can come in and enjoy a bowl of homemade soup.”

“As vaccines become more available I will take input from the library board and state, national and federal organizations to create guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. We always want to make sure our patrons are safe, “ Simon assured.