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London Library director takes job in Marion County
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 Gary Branson
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(Posted Aug. 2, 2010)
In 1994, Gary Branson began his journey in the library profession when he was hired as the tech processing assistant at the London Public Library. Over the next 16 years, Branson’s role changed as he progressed through the organization. In 2004 he reached the pinnacle and became director.
This September, Branson will continue his work in the library profession, but at the Marion Public Library system as their new director. He submitted his resignation to the library’s board of trustees on July 12 and will officially give up his post on Aug.15.
“Reading has been a daily part of my life, as far back as I can remember,” says Branson. As a boy, he made weekly trips to the library in Piqua, Ohio, where he quenched his reading habits with the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series.
As the years passed, Branson added numerous series and authors to his reading list as well as different genres. In his teenage years, he explored the romance genre and found he liked it.
“Even now people say to me, ‘You read romance?’ and my response is ‘There’s nothing like a good Harlequin or Silhouette’,” Branson said. Today, his knowledge of the genre and its authors is so extensive that he is regularly sought out for speaking engagements within the library profession.
Prior to working at the library, Branson worked in the accounting department for the Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy, Ohio. It was there he said he began to lay the foundation of a fiscal philosophy that would later help him steer the library through the current recession.
“There is no doubt we lost revenues over the last two years, but overall the library is fiscally sound and I’m very proud of that,” Branson said.
“Gary has done an outstanding job at the library. Through his many talents and leadership he has made the library a vibrant, state-of-the-art, user- and family-friendly facility that we can all be very proud of,” said Laura Eldridge, board trustee.
As for his new post at the Marion Public Library, he said he is excited about the new venture.
“This move is a great opportunity for me within the profession, kind of the next chapter so to speak, but it also comes with a sense of loss,” Branson said. “After all, I have 16 years of friendships and stewardship within the London community and that’s hard for me to move away from.”
Branson not only invested himself in the library but the community as well by sitting on boards to local organizations including A Friend’s House and Habitat for Humanity.
“Gary’s work goes far beyond the doors of the library,” said Mike Hensel, youth services librarian. “He is a Rotarian and a member of the Kiwanis group, so we will certainly miss his camaraderie and community service.”
Branson’s last day on the job is Aug. 13. Library staff and board members are hosting an open house in his honor from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 10.
“Gary always kept in mind what was best for the library so he could keep it moving forward. I wish him the best in all his future endeavors and thank him for a job very well done,” said Michael Lynch, board trustee.
The library board of trustees offered Hensel the director’s position for the remainder of the year. He has worked at the library for over 12 years and holds a master’s degree in library and information science from Kent State University.
The library is located at 20 E. First St. in London and online at www.mylondonlibrary.org.
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