New director is welcomed at Leanna Hicks Public Library
Julie Brown, Special Writer
Betty Adams took over Aug. 31 as
Leanna Hicks Public Library of Inkster director.
“The whole building is new,” Inkster resident Adams said of the structure at 2500 Hamlin Blvd. in Inkster. The construction entailed a temporary relocation to an Inkster Road site, with the late March of this year grand reopening delayed by the pandemic.
“I'm a firm believer the sky's the limit. The only thing that's impossible is the thing you don't want to put time into,” she said.
Adams earned her master's degree in library and information science from Wayne State University, then worked at the college Shiffman Medical Library in interlibrary loan. Before that, she worked at the Garden City Public Library before joining the Inkster facility Aug. 31.
At 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at the Inkster library a “Library Launch Lawn Program” is planned for residents, with information including the importance of the U.S. Census, getting a library card, and meeting Adams.
“We're rolling in a whole bunch of opportunities for the public to get information,” she said.
Attendance requires advance registration, and the cut off will be determined based on occupancy, with the governor's order and Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
The Inkster library phone is (313) 563-2822, and calls to register are accepted noon to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. (Press “0” when calling.)
The Leanna Hicks Library Board and Friends Foundation leadership have a COVID-19 phased reopening plan, said Adams. Patrons can now have black-and-white printing done through their email, with some copies taken to their vehicle. Check out too on the www.inkster.lib.mi.us website under “Using the Library” in the upper right details on a virtual library card.
The Inkster library Facebook has gone live as well, and Adams notes “This building is wonderful. The staff that is here has been working diligently.”
As a resident, she took note when the job opened up. The Inkster library is named for Hicks, who's living and as Adams says “a do-it-all kind of entrepreneur. Journalism, archives.”
The library director job is a challenge at times, but Adams is also the region's main coordinator of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, getting free books to children ages birth to 5. She undertook that first in graduate school.
“We actually got it started through COVID” which is a source of pride, added Adams of that organizational work.
Not too surprising, she's a reader, and likes the psychological thrillers of authors including Lisa Gardner. “She's just a wonderful, wonderful author. I can't recommend her enough,” especially for readers who like psychological thrillers, Adams said.
Libraries are again offering the Michigan Activity Pass, a boon to Adams in her spare time. “I fully cherish and take advantage of that,” she said of visiting state parks and other such sites.
The Inkster library doesn't yet have a date set for full building access, but is progressing and details will be announced shortly, Adams said.
