Library director to retire Pat La Violette hopes to continue serving Brown County By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle She started in the old library on Jefferson Street as a children's librarian. She leaves as director of a county-wide system that has nine branches, a bookmobile and a budget of $6 million - and recognition as one of the nation's best. Pat La Violette will step down as director of the Brown County Library System June 4, after 17 years as director. "I've been thinking about it for a long time - I had to work my way through it," she admitted. "This library is the love of my life, and it's very difficult to leave. I had to make sure the timing was right." She leaves after the completion of two major branches, in De Pere and Howard, built with $4 million in private donations. During her term as director, the system was honored as state library of the year twice, in 1980 and 1993, and national library of the year in 1994. But her best memories are of the public and how they joined in her love of her library. "It was always extremely important that everyone in the community feels ownership of the library," she said. "I wanted to make sure the library is not sitting off in a corner; I wanted it involved in all the celebrations and great things that happen in the community. La Violette is especially proud of the children who have left her library and gone on to great things. "Since the very beginning, we've played a continuing role in getting children to read. It's amazing how fast those children grew up and ended up in leadership posts," she said. Those library children are now adult supporters, she said. "I'm thrilled that people love this library and anytime anyone suggests cutting hours or closing one, people get upset," she said. "They see value in public libraries." And those libraries have changed. "I remember when the Internet started up and more and more people said that would affect libraries, and it did. But they also said libraries wouldn't be used much," she said. "I think people are reading much more these days." But she won't spend her retirement catching up on her own reading. "I want to look for opportunities to be a contributing member to the community; I love Brown County," she said. "There is so much to do, I can't imagine I'm not going to stay busy." She already is, serving currently on the Green Bay Packers board of directors, the Wells Fargo advisory board, the Packers Foundation, YWCA Women of Vision, the Dudley Birder Chorale board and St. Mary's Hospital advisory board. But she does have one trip in mind - Ireland. "My mother is Mary Rose McCarthy and her ancestors built Blarney Castle," La Violette said. "I hope I can get over there to connect with relatives and friends."