By Andrew Carranza

Allied News Staff Writer

After 26 years of books, sweat and tears, Linda Bennett is finally retiring from Grove City Community Library.

“To be able to retire is a gift,” Bennett, 60, said. “I’m definitely going to make the most of it.”

Bennett, who will be retiring on Dec. 31, began her career at the library in 1984, when it was still located at 131 S. Broad St., where the Blue Ribbon Tavern is currently situated.

The former library was small and packed, not providing much room for residents to enjoy the facility.

“When I first took the job, I remember telling the library board members that I was not going to work when my kids got to high school a few years down the road,” Bennett recalled. “But obviously, things changed over the years.”

One of the first major changes for the library came in 1986 when it relocated to a new facility at 125 W. Main St., where it is today.

“We had been looking for a new place to expand and at the same time, the borough was also looking for a new municipal building,” Bennett explained. “Borough officials asked the library to be part of that new facility.”

The Grove City native said moving into the new building remains one of her favorite memories from her library career.

“The community really came together and it was a real inspiration to me,” Bennett said. “It was the clincher to see how important the library is to Grove City.”

Since that fateful move, Bennett said she got so involved at the library that she forgot her earlier comment to the board.

“I never imagined the library would be where it is today,” she said. “We’ve come a long way and I’m very proud of it.”

Bennett was instrumental in expanding the services offered at the community facility, including book discussion groups, author visits, family movie nights and the Bookworm Club for kids.