New director opens shutters on new library era

Walking into the Pioneer Memorial Library feels different – it’s a brighter, louder, happier space.

The change occurred in January, when Erika Caputo stepped into the library director position that had been vacant for almost two years.

“I told my staff, you can wear your nose rings or anything you want as long as our customers are happy,” said Caputo, a sci-fi book lover, about her first day.

Her staff of three have been holding down the fort since the death of former director Brian MacWithey on March 27, 2022. They said they welcomed the new leadership and changes.

“When (Caputo) said I could wear my nose rings, I felt relieved like I could finally be myself,” said Megan Evans, a 2014 Fredericksburg High School graduate and anime book lover, who has been with the library for 12 years.

Evans started as a page when she was a junior at FHS. Now she is studying for her library science degree online at the Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), while clerking at the library.

She admitted to being nervous the first day Caputo stepped into the library.

“She started Jan. 2, and I met her that day. She came in and introduced herself and we started on things,” Evans said. “I like the changes. It’s so laid back.”

Caputo wants all patrons of the library to feel that way.

“It’s not just about the books. It’s really about creating an environment where people can get together and just hang out,” she said. “Where kids can be with other kids and parents can be with other parents, especially homeschool moms.”

She’s been creating welcoming and information- driven library environments as a children’s librarian in the Miami-Dade Public Library System, where she worked for seven years. She also worked as a media specialist for the District of Columbia Public Schools system.

Caputo, who found a home in Blanco, admitted that the staff has a lot of work to do on the physical library collection before implementing large-scale changes in programming and activities.

“This is something that a lot of people don’t necessarily understand outside of this business. In order to get new books, you have to get rid of things,” she said. “I knew walking into this facility that the collection, while very comprehensive, has aged significantly.”

The culling and collection process requires time and research, and it’s a tough task for a library that’s understaffed, she said. With the recent retirement of Maria Aleman, who served as interim librarian, the institutional knowledge that comes from a 46-year career at the library was lost.

Caputo has been able to implement small changes thanks to a survey the staff posted online and gave to patrons who walked into the library.

Patrons shared their opinions about what they would like to see at the library.

“I had almost 400 responses, and I was thrilled. It really ended up exceeding my expectations,” she said.

The staff has already implemented some small changes to the library based on the results.

“The easiest one in the world was the book drop,” Caputo said. “Pre-pandemic, I believe the book drop was open 24/7, then they closed it down during the pandemic, which was a pretty standard thing that most places did during that time. They never went back and opened it again. That was the easiest one.”

Another quick and easy change based on the survey had to with the historic building. Patrons complained that it was too dark inside the facility.

“I didn’t even realize this but all of these top shutters upstairs and downstairs – open,” she laughed and pointed to the window. “It does look different. Doesn’t it?”

Linda Heimann, another library clerk who has a master of library science degree from the University of Texas, said she appreciates how receptive Caputo is to suggestions.

The five-year veteran of the library and Christian fiction book lover knew her patrons well enough to suggest selling donated books inside the library.

“A lot of tourists come in and ask if we have a bookstore. And we have to tell them to go to thrift stores in town,” Heinmann said. “We have a book cart set out to sell books, and we were not allowed to do that before. I suggested it to her. She talked to the judge (Daniel Jones), and he said it was a good idea. Now we’re selling books here – hard bound is $1.50 and paperbacks are 50 cents. I am refilling it several times a week.”

Caputo’s next turnaround involves a change in mindset.

“It’s always strange in a public library, because parents don’t want their kids to just pull books off the shelf and throw them anywhere,” Caputo said. “I understand that they’re trying to be respectful of our space, but one of the things I need parents to unlearn and then explain to the young ones, I want them to do just that.

“They don’t have to put it back. They can leave it on the table, and we will take care of it at the end of the day, because that’s our job. I’m trying to create the least restrictive environment and more welcoming one.”

Pioneer Memorial Library

115 West Main St., Fredericksburg,

Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Closed Saturday, April 6, and Monday, April 8.

Library staff

Library Director Erika Caputo Clerks Linda Heimann, Megan Evans and Serena Connolly.

Wishlist donations

To help purchase books for the library’s collection patrons can visit https://www.dreamlist.com/for/7t3z15tbap