{"id":3236,"date":"2022-08-24T10:01:21","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T14:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3236"},"modified":"2022-08-24T10:01:21","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T14:01:21","slug":"inspire-glenna-wisniewski-liverpool-public-library-director-to-retire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3236","title":{"rendered":"Inspire: Glenna Wisniewski: Liverpool Public Library director to retire"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Mark Bialczak<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Glenna Wisniewski was a kid growing up in Baldwinsville, she recalls, on a rainy day she might be found at her friend Jimmy Pirong\u2019s house playing library.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would have our books and checkout cards,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019d say, \u2018I think you need to read this.\u2019 I\u2019d give due dates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, she had real-life experience to draw upon. She also remembers riding her bike to the village library, located at the time in a house with creaky floors on Charlotte Street.<\/p>\n

Taking a career assessment test years later in high school, one of her choices came out as bookmobile librarian. Alas, Wisniewski already had it in her mind to study American history at Syracuse University.<\/p>\n

Funny how the pages can turn.<\/p>\n

That bachelor\u2019s degree led to a master\u2019s in Archives and Museum Librarianship at SU. Then came her first professional librarian position in the office of Museums and Historic Sites for Onondaga County Parks. Then an out-of-the-blue query letter brought a slot as a children\u2019s librarian at the Onondaga County Public Libraries\u2019 Mundy Branch, which was followed by a beloved slot as a bookmobile librarian out of the central branch of OCPL.<\/p>\n

\u201cDing!\u201d Wisniewski says with a laugh about that revisit to the bookmobile suggestion of her high school days. \u201cMy favorite job, ever!\u201d<\/p>\n

While expecting the birth of her daughter, Wisniewski heard of a job at the Liverpool Central School District\u2019s Educational Communication Center, like a BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) for the big school district. \u201cWhat a great schedule to be on,\u201d she says she thought at the time.<\/p>\n

She ended up working for the school district for 20 years. When her position was cut to half-time in 2003, Wisniewski also became a part-time substitute librarian at the Liverpool Public Library.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rest is history,\u201d she says. That history includes becoming full-time at the LPL when her school district position was eliminated in 2009. It winds through the LPL as adult services librarian, coordinator of children, adult and teen services and assistant director before being appointed director in 2016.<\/p>\n

Wisniewski will retire as LPL director at the end of July.<\/p>\n

She says she has many people to thank.<\/p>\n

Professor Antje Lemke at Syracuse University. Elaine Wisowaty and Dennis Connors at Onondaga Parks. Linda Mann, Kay Budmen and Nancy Silverman at the school district. Karen Ingham and Dorothy Morgan on the library staff and Donald MacLaughlin from the library board of trustees.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people that supported me and encouraged me had more faith in me than I had in myself,\u201d Wisniewski says.<\/p>\n

She says they and others she\u2019s encountered over the years helped her form the principles that make Glenna, Glenna.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne, leading and accepting different personalities to the table. The one way I see it is not necessarily the way. Two, it\u2019s OK to fail and try things. If it doesn\u2019t work, go back, reassess why it doesn\u2019t work, try something else. Three, surround yourself with smart, competent people. Let them know it\u2019s a safe environment, they can do what they need to do safely and they have what they need to succeed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Wisniewski says her decades at the Liverpool Public Library have helped her discover much about the community, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned this community supports the public library. They love the public library,\u201d she says. \u201cWe need to make sure it\u2019s accessible to people no matter the challenges they may have. We\u2019re always working on inclusion, I want to make sure people feel welcome here. That\u2019s a sense of pride for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the past several years, Wisniewski says, she\u2019s seen the staff help steer patrons through the library renovation, the cyberattack on the OCPL online system and, of course, the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a great staff, a great collection and now, a great building,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Changes that came from the pandemic such as more online opportunities, virtual programming and the Grab It & Go (holds pick up in the underground garage) have remained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think a lot of people realized how much the library means to them,\u201d Wisniewski says. \u201cWe ushered them to online resources that still have high use. We began important community services like passing out COVID tests and having masks available. Being open and maintaining a safe environment went a long way with the public.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even after retirement, she says, \u201cI\u2019ll always be an advocate for libraries. An OCPL advocate. A Central New York Library Resources Council advocate. I meet with [New York State Assemblymember] Pam Hunter. As inflation continues to grow, I think people will continue to rely on libraries\u2019 free service. No matter who you are, you\u2019ll be treated the same. Elon Musk or a homeless person. The libraries will be more important to fill their roles in the communities. It will be tough, but we have to give the people what they need.\u201d<\/p>\n

And she\u2019ll travel to see family in California and Tennessee, and take advantage of volunteer opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll see where the road takes me,\u201d Wisniewski says.<\/p>\n

After all \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI never had any intention of being a library director. Like said in a quote (from author Douglas Adams) to the staff: \u2018I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s note: Mark Bialczak is a communications specialist with the Liverpool Public Library.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Submitted photo<\/p>\n

Glenna Wisniewski retired as Liverpool Public Library director at the end of July.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Mark Bialczak When Glenna Wisniewski was a kid growing up in Baldwinsville, she recalls, on a rainy day she might be found at her friend Jimmy Pirong\u2019s house playing library. \u201cWe would have our books and checkout cards,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019d say, \u2018I think you need to read this.\u2019 I\u2019d give due dates.\u201d Yes,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1143],"tags":[1229,157,1231,272,1065,1230],"class_list":["post-3236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspire","tag-glenna-wisniewski","tag-inspire","tag-librarian","tag-liverpool","tag-liverpool-public-library","tag-retire"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/LPL-Glenna-CMYK.jpg?fit=1800%2C1200&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2767,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2767","url_meta":{"origin":3236,"position":0},"title":"SPECIAL FEATURE: \u2018Net-mom\u2019 honored for making internet accessible","author":"Staff","date":"January 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alyssa Dearborn Photo by Michael Di Giglio\/MDG Images Despite her long career as a public librarian in Central New York, Jean Polly never really thought the title suited her. \u201cI see myself more as an information professional,\u201d she said. \u201cI am a connector, linking people with resources.\u201d Polly \u2014\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/mdg20191127-17.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/mdg20191127-17.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/mdg20191127-17.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/mdg20191127-17.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3415,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3415","url_meta":{"origin":3236,"position":1},"title":"Coming full-circle: Ophelia\u2019s Place founder to retire","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"December 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Ashley M. Casey Associate Editor MaryEllen Clausen first announced her retirement from Ophelia\u2019s Place more than 10 years ago \u2014 on the cover of the first-anniversary issue of Syracuse Woman Magazine, no less \u2014 but she found herself unable to step away from the Liverpool-based nonprofit she founded. Now,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Inspire"","block_context":{"text":"Inspire","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=1143"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OP-MaryEllen-Clausen-Alice-G-Patterson-photo.jpeg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OP-MaryEllen-Clausen-Alice-G-Patterson-photo.jpeg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OP-MaryEllen-Clausen-Alice-G-Patterson-photo.jpeg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OP-MaryEllen-Clausen-Alice-G-Patterson-photo.jpeg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2797,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2797","url_meta":{"origin":3236,"position":2},"title":"INSPIRE: Jane Tretler, cardiac amyloidosis survivor","author":"Staff","date":"February 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"By Sharee Turpin Photos by Maureen Tricase\/Capture Your Moments \u00a0 Jane Tretler was no stranger to strenuous physical activity. An avid swimmer and hiker, she thought her body had no limitations. That changed in September of 2010, when she and her husband Peter Wirth took a 40-mile hiking trip in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/fullsizeoutput_231e1.jpeg?fit=787%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/fullsizeoutput_231e1.jpeg?fit=787%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/fullsizeoutput_231e1.jpeg?fit=787%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/fullsizeoutput_231e1.jpeg?fit=787%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3227,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3227","url_meta":{"origin":3236,"position":3},"title":"Inspire: Judith Hight: Driven to make a difference","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"August 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Kate Hanzalik J.S. Hight & Sons Fine Wines & Spirits. You\u2019ll find the shop on Albany Street in Cazenovia. Walk in and you\u2019ll see estate-bottled wines from around the world stacked neatly on rustic shelves and tables like rare books in an old Ivy league library. The experience is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Inspire"","block_context":{"text":"Inspire","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=1143"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/DSC_0335-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/DSC_0335-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/DSC_0335-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/DSC_0335-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/DSC_0335-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":964,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=964","url_meta":{"origin":3236,"position":4},"title":"Husna Lapidus","author":"Staff","date":"July 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Literacy Leaders By Carol Radin | Photography by Mary Grace Photography\u00a0 Learning and literacy at Kumon Math and Reading Center in DeWitt are a family affair for owner and director Husna Lapidus. As a businesswoman and mother of three, Husna brings the principles of engaged learning from her home to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Husna-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C786&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Husna-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C786&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Husna-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C786&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Husna-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C786&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Husna-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C786&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2520,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2520","url_meta":{"origin":3236,"position":5},"title":"INSPIRE: Sue Straub, Book Van-Go","author":"Staff","date":"August 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Megan Sheehan Photos by Maureen Tricase\/Capture Your Moments Photography \u00a0 There\u2019s nothing quite as timeless as a book. It seems rather simple, but in reality is anything but. Bound paper held tight by a spine, printed ink, pages and a story. For centuries, books have been the connecting dots\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/fullsizeoutput-2ac8.jpeg?fit=813%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/fullsizeoutput-2ac8.jpeg?fit=813%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/fullsizeoutput-2ac8.jpeg?fit=813%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/fullsizeoutput-2ac8.jpeg?fit=813%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3236"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3238,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3236\/revisions\/3238"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}