For nearly 30 years Sally Edwards has stood sentinel over the books at the Carson City Library.
But her focus hasn't been solely on literature.
"It's a people business, and this library is popular because of the people," she said. "I'm very hopeful and optimistic about the future of the library because it's so popular."
She has seen the number of reference questions posed to library employees rise from 11,000 in 1978 to 70,000 this past year.
"It has been a privilege and good fortune to advance a cause I feel so deeply about - providing free information to the public," Edwards said.
But she is retiring in September, she said.
At the top of her to-do list are visits to the Sierra Nevada. She is looking forward to many trips there once work commitments and time constraints are no longer a factor.
"I want to travel," she said. "I've worked full time since I was 22 years old."
A fourth-generation area resident, Edwards, 58, earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Nevada, Reno and worked in journalism briefly before switching to library science.
"Libraries are called 'the cornerstone of democracy' - and I concur with that," she said.
She began working for area libraries in the early 1970s, first as a library assistant at the University of Nevada, Reno's Getchell Library, and the Washoe County Library in Sparks. She came to work at the Carson City Library in 1978 as the assistant director, the same year she earned her degree in library science.
Edwards was named as the library's director in 1987.
What's her most satisfying accomplishment? Hiring and retaining a dedicated staff. She said she believes creating opportunities for advancement to workers who perform all types of duties has helped provide them incentive to offer library users a high level of service.
She also said the children's service is an offering she and staff members should be proud of because of its innovation.
"It's the job of the library director to fight for that funding and protect current service levels," she said. "To stand up for the library and for the citizens who use the service."
She hopes the city will obtain what it needs to provide quality library services: A larger building and enough money to adequately operate seven days a week. Budget constraints have required the number of operation hours be reduced from 60 to 57 since the year Edwards first went to work there.
After taking a breather, Edwards plans to continue supporting the library through involvement with the Carson City Library Foundation. And people who frequent the library's annual Oktoberfest fundraiser, scheduled for Oct. 7, will be able to easily spot her.
"I'll be running the bar," she smiled.
Retirement also will allow her to spend more time with Barnum and Bailey, her two Maine Coon cats, she said.
• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.