Library Director Bids Adieu

If you haven't heard, Great Falls Public Library Director Jim Heckel, in his 21st year in the post, plans to retire this summer. His last day on the job is July 31.

When asked what he considered his biggest achievement as library director he responded, "Creating a library central to the citizens of the community, getting together a staff capable of achieving that, and providing the necessary tools for that goal." Jim's career at Great Falls Public Library reflects these ideals.

According to his retirement letter, when he arrived, the library was in financial trouble, was closed two days a week, was not computerized and sponsored no local programming. What 21 years and an inspired director can do! The Great Falls Public Library is now considered a model of computerized access, is open seven days a week (excepting the summer months), has one of the most active series of library programs for the community in the state, and a now successful foundation.

Heckel believes that the profession of librarianship is so much more than providing books and information from a building. He reflected, "It is supporting the underlying process that is essential to democracy." Even though this inspiration was not the motivation for him to become a librarian, it became central to his career as his awareness of issues of censorship and what that meant grew. He realized this was deeper than someone objecting to a book they found offensive, but struck at the heart of our democracy, constitutional issues. This awareness blossomed with Heckel working with the ACLU and serving on the Montana State ACLU board for four years. It also led him to develop in-depth understanding of constitutional issues, specifically the first and fourth amendments, which deal with access to information and privacy issues respectively. To this day, he is sought out to speak on these topics.

Jim was prompted to become a librarian by his first job in a library. At the time he was a high school teacher, which gave him opportunity to hold summer employment. The Eugene Field Branch of the Denver Public Library provided the right setting coupled with the right supervisor to give him the understanding he could be more, the encouragement on how to pursue that and the direction to follow. He got his degree through night and summer school.

What followed was a forty year career in libraries, including the Boulder Public Library and Loveland Public Library in Colorado, the San Francisco Public Library, the Lewis and Clark Public Library in Helena and the Great Falls Public Library. During that career he has worn all the hats a librarian can wear with the exception of children's librarian.

Captain Internet

Along with his work as director of the Great Falls Public Library, Jim has served on numerous boards within the community and state including Humanities Montana, KGPR Public Radio, Montana Wilderness Association, and president of Montana Library Association.

Although dedicated to his vocation, Jim has always considered work to not be everything in life, but rather an interesting place to spend part of the day. He is an avid film buff and reader, gourmet cook, an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys biking, hiking and backcountry skiing, and a world traveler.

In fact, in October Jim will be traveling to Nepal where he and his wife, Pam, will be teaching English in a Tibetan monastery, after which they will trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary. He plans to increase his volunteering to teach English in foreign countries on a more regular basis and is in the process of re-certification.

His progressive thinking took him and the Great Falls Public Library to new and exciting places. May that continue in this next phase of his life. It was always an adventure with Jim at the helm. He will be gone, but not forgotten.