Longtime Willington Library Staffer Retires After 50 Years Of Service

WILLINGTON, CT — One of the friendliest faces in Willington has retired after a half-century of service to the local library.

"It was all book things," Kathy Lisiewski said.

To mark Lisiewski's 50 years of service, state Sen. Jeff Gordon was on-hand at her retirement ceremony Thursday to present a state citation.

A portrait of her has also been commissioned and will hang in the building.

A book cart has also been named in her honor.

Here are some of her career moments:

• In 1975, Lisiewski and Roby Passardi helped start a library for Center School moms. When her children began attending school, she became a library volunteer.
• In 1990, she began a Friends of the Library group.
• Lisiewski served a pair of six-year terms on the local library board.
• She co-chaired the library building committee.
• She became an employee of the new library when it opened in 2007 and stayed until her retirement this week.
• Lisiewski established the Library Book Shoppe.