A Farewell After 36 Years

A fixture at the for 36 years, Jane Atkinson officially marked the end of her impressive tenure there — which includes 30 years as the library's director — earlier this month. She gave so much to the town for so long, but on Sunday afternoon, it was time for the town to give something back to her.

Nearly 90 people, all of whom have been touched by Atkinson over the years, packed into the library's community room to celebrate her career on March 14.

Atkinson was surrounded by friends, most of whom had known her for many years during which she left her indelible mark on the Weston Library.

During her time as director, Atkinson helped “double the size of the library,” said Amy Sanborn, who spoke at the event.

Atkinson oversaw the addition of the community room, an expanded community room, and the transition from Dewey Decimals into the age of computers and the internet.

“The library never had to close” during that transition, said Sanborn. “A lesser woman would’ve said, ‘It’s just too hard,’ and quit."

“She made friends with everybody,” said Sanborn.

The Women’s Club of Weston presented a check to the library in Atkinson’s honor.

Then, Atkinson was presented with a special gift, which came veiled under a sheet.

“It looks like a chair,” muttered someone in the audience.

It certainly wasn’t a chair, though: sheet withdrawn, the gift was revealed to be a beautiful watercolor painting which rested on an easel. The subject of the painting was an outside view of the library during a balmy spring or summer day.

The watercolor was a gift from Weston artist Andrew Neilly, who smiled politely as a chorus of applause rushed through the room.

The watercolor will hang in the Weston Library in honor of Atkinson.

“I’ve always wanted one, but I could never afford one,” Atkinson said, receiving peals of laughter.

“I was going to give a brief history of the library, but I realized last night that I lost my voice,”she said. “It’s been a long 36 years."

It has also been a fruitful 36 years. After Atkinson spoke, the celebration resumed. Finger food, coffee, tea, and punch were served. Don Gumaur catered the event.

“We’ve lived in Weston for 32 years. Since my most cherished possession is a child with a library card, the first place we went to was the library,” said Veronica Slade, a Redding resident. She met Atkinson at library.

“When I first met my husband, Mark, he had two or three books. Now he has a library of over 1,000,” said Slade, who said she, with the help of Atkinson, helped recommend books for her husband and transform him into a voracious reader.

“I’ve known Jane since 1983,” said Westonite Margaret Wirtenberg. “I met her when she was running for the Board of Appeals. It was a contested election, but she won. I remember that. She was very popular."

“I’ve known Mrs. Atkinson forever, she’s fabulous,” said Liz Langolis. Her mother, former library chairwoman Lynne Langolis, spoke earlier at the event, at one point holding back tears as she gave her dear friend a fond farewell speech.

“I’ve known Jane since 1950—maybe 1954,” said Ree Meehan, who had also served on the library’s board of directors with Atkinson. “This [event] is just what I would expect. The library is such a special place."

Atkinson took the moment in.

“I didn’t know I knew so many people,” she told Patch.

“I’ve been looking forward to this event for a very, very, long time,” said Atkinson, waving her finger before going back to mingle with the dozens of guests who still milled about.

Atkinson has been the library’s director since 1980.