Elaine Paulette was honored Sunday for her dedication to the Wood County District Public Library over the
past three and a half decades.
She is retiring later this month as director, a position she has held since 1987.
Representatives of the library’s board of trustees, the Friends of the Library and the library foundation
board praised her leadership during an afternoon retirement reception held in the library’s atrium – the
cornerstone of the renovation project that she spearheaded.
Chet Marcin, speaking for the trustees, highlighted her accomplishments:
¥ Introduction of computers and an automated catalog system.
¥ Establishment of the library foundation.
¥ Passage of the bond issue and completion of a private fundraising campaign to renovate the building.

¥ Development of an environmental-friendly bookmobile that runs on compressed natural gas.
¥ Introduction of the Community Reads program.
¥ Passage of the library’s first operating levy.
Marcin and Ohio Rep. Randy Gardner both commended her for playing a key role in establishing OPLIN – the
Ohio Public Library Information Network – which brought free Internet access to patrons of all libraries
throughout Ohio.
Gardner and Wood County Commissioner Jim Carter both presented her with proclamations in recognition of
her service.
Barb Keller gave her a gift from the Friends of the Library board. Sharon Hanna and Dawn McCaghy
represented the foundation board members who donated more than $1,000 to be used to purchase library
materials as a tribute to her. The foundation board also has ordered a rare tree – an Epaulette tree –
to be planted in her honor.
Paulette thanked her past and present board members and staff, along with the friends and foundation
organizations, her peers at other libraries and the library patrons for supporting her over the years.