After embracing technical revolution, Saugus High librarian retires

SAUGUS – After heading up the Saugus High School library for 33 years, Ronald Weekley worked his last day Friday.Since taking the job back in 1978, rapidly changing technology like the Internet, e-Books and tablets have transformed the landscape of the library from rows upon rows of books, to row upon rows of computers.And, as the high school tries to keep up with the times, Weekley has been right in the middle of the technology revolution.?Everything had to adapt,” said Weekley. “It?s a whole new world out there. The way I left it with the school is that I?m not really retiring, I plan on coming back in one capacity or another and helping out. We?re in the process of putting all of our collection on computer and it?s really exciting.”Weekley, along with Superintendent Richard Langlois, have been looking into e-Book readers like the Kindle and the Nook, which would change the way students access the library.?It?s going to blossom and develop,” said Weekley. “It?s limitless. I love it because you can make the text as large as you want. They?re introducing color in the future and the neat thing is they?ve connected with the public libraries. If Gutenberg could come back now he would be amazed.”Saugus High principal Joseph Diorio said Weekley won?t just be missed for his technological know-how, but for his personality as well.?Ron has brought some humor, some laughter, he?s brought dedication, experience and overall just the glue of the school,” said Diorio. “We?ll miss his friendship because he?s one of the nicest guys you?ll ever meet. He?s just a genuine person.”Before his involvement in libraries, Weekley said he initially wanted to be an English teacher when he was student-teaching in Amesbury in the 1970s. But, when he was accepted into the library science masters program at Simmons College, he decided to change course and, luckily for him, he found a home at Saugus High School.Working with students and making sure they can find the information they need has been the best part of the job for Weekley. And, with the implementation of all the new technologies over the years, the challenge of teaching them to students is something he?s not looking forward to giving up.?It?s been great working with kids,” said Weekley, who also worked nights at the Saugus Public Library for 12 years. “They keep you young for sure. It?s a challenge to teach them how to use the Internet properly. The Internet is a double-edged sword. Using Google is like standing on a street corner and just asking people what they think about a subject as they walk by.”That?s why Weekley stresses the use of databases, like the 110-year-old Reader?s Guide to Periodical Literature.?That was the authority,” said Weekley. “Now I think the libraries of the future are going to be more focused on databases for specific research purposes. It?s exciting, but it?s scary too. I just hate to give it up.”Weekley will be spending much of his free time babysitting for his grandson, but he won?t be a stranger at the school. Weekley plans to help out when needed, and his top priority for the new school year will be to make an easy transition for his successor.?It?s not like a classroom teacher,” said Weekley. “There are a lot of procedures and systems that have been set up and it?s nice to have someone to show you around.”After Thursday night?s School Committee meeting, Langlois talked about some of the technology he and Weekley had been looking forward to setting up at the school. And even though a new librarian is set to take over in the fall, Langlois said he?s hoping Weekley will keep a promise he made when he announced his retirement.?He?s been a tremendous asset to the school community and really kept the library media services going,” said Langlois. “Ron made a promise that he?s going to come back and help us and I?m going to hold him to it.”