Dryden’s longtime Southworth Library director to step down

When Diane Pamel was homeschooling her five sons, she became a frequent visitor to Southworth Library in the village of Dryden.

One day, in 2005, the library staff encouraged Pamel to apply for an open aide position. To Pamel, it made sense because she was already taking advantage of the resources and materials on a regular basis.

Pamel, previously a mechanical engineer for seven years, applied for the job and got it. It was also a good time for Pamel to start working there, with her last two sons entering middle school.

“I’ve always loved the library, so I applied,” Pamel said. “It’s how I ended up making that switch.”

Almost 20 years later, Pamel is set to step down as the library’s director at the end of March. Pamel became the director in 2007. She secured her master’s degree in library sciences with a concentration in rural library leadership from Clarion University in 2009.

“I feel like I’ve been able to accomplish a lot in the 20 or so years I’ve been working here,” Pamel said. “We have a great team, and I’ve been able to see us grow so much.”

Pamel, 66, made the decision to retire next month so she can spend time with family, including her grandchildren.

“It’s been a blast,” she said. “It’s kind of bittersweet to step down, but I know that the library is in a good place. It’s a time in my life where I can look at what the next 20 years are going to be.”

In the two decades she’s been at the helm, Pamel has plenty of accomplishments she’s proud of achieving. Her biggest one was creating programs and events for all ages.

“All of the programs are pretty vibrant, whether it’s the preschool or adult programs,” Pamel said.

Pamel said that the library obtained multiple increments of grant funding in order to offer programs.

“That’s how we’ve been able to do more programs and events — because we have been able to get grant funding to supplement our regular budget,” Pamel said. “We were able to increase our library usage between 200-300% because of it.”

Pamel also reminisced about the sale of Abraham Lincoln’s historical victory speech document from 1865. The document, which was sitting in a bank vault in pristine condition, had been in the library’s possession since 1925.

When Pamel and the library’s board realized they needed more space in the building, they decided to sell the document in February 2009. Pamel said that the document sold for a record $3.44 million.

The money allowed for an extension to the library to be built. Today, the section is used for a children’s area, open space for reading and computer usage.

Pamel praised the library board for executing the decision.

“It was worth it. The space is perfect,” Pamel said. “The library has seen so much change. It’s really become a community center here in Dryden.”

Pamel is also proud of the library receiving $50,000 in annual funding from the Dryden Central School District. In 2022, the community voted in favor of the library getting the funding from the tax money that Dryden CSD collects on a yearly basis.

The arrangement has allowed the library have a more stable budget, which Pamel said was crucial following the years of the COVID pandemic.

“It’s been a huge game changer for us,” Pamel said.

Pamel noted that the library is collecting applications for her replacement. The applications will be reviewed by board members in the coming weeks, and the library hopes to have a new director by mid-March.

“I felt it was time for someone else’s fresh vision to come through, keep up with what we created here and put their own good spin on it,” Pamel said.

Aside from her staff, Pamel will miss the people who come in and use the library, along with the interactions she has with visitors every day.

“They’ve all become very dear to me. I’ll miss the daily interaction,” Pamel said.

Pamel will now use her last month-and-a-half as director to absorb as many memories as she can.

“I really appreciate the community I’ve been able to interact with,” Pamel said. “Whether it’s a young mom with children that comes for preschool or it’s the adults in discussion groups and programs that we do, they’ve inspired and encouraged me as I’ve been here.”

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Silent book club at the library on Feb. 24

Southworth Library in the village of Dryden will hold a silent book club gathering at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24.

“We’ll spend some time chatting and getting snacks, and give a preview of the give away book and then you will be free to grab a cozy seat and read in a room with other readers, no conversation required,” according to a description on the library’s website.

The club allows people to choose a free book from the library’s pile to read and take home. Participants can also bring a book to the gathering.

The club is for ages 16 and older. To register, go to southworthlibrary.org.