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11/16/2022 11:00 AMWhen Debbie Verrillo joined Northford’s Edward Smith Library as Children’s Librarian, she had no idea it would become her second home for the next 34 years. She also couldn’t have guessed she’d become the library’s much-loved “Mrs. Debbie” to so many community members.
On Saturday, Nov. 19, from noon to 3 p.m., Library Director Lauren Davis and the staff of the North Branford Public Libraries invite the community to join them at Smith Library, 3 Old Post Road, for a special open house retirement celebration honoring Debbie’s 34 years of dedication and service.
Following that, on Saturday, Dec. 3, Debbie will officially complete her work with the library community she’s helped to foster over the last three decades, when she hosts her final, favorite annual program, Breakfast with Santa in the Children’s Room beginning at 9:30 a.m.
In collaboration with the North Branford Family Resource Center (FRC), Debbie has built the event into a tradition that began in 2009, following the renovation and re-opening of the library building.
“I work in cooperation with the Family Resource Center and Miss Erin [Annicelli],” says Debbie.
She says this program, and many other FRC collaborations through the years have been “...a great cooperative.”
Because kids are sometimes afraid to meet Santa, it’s more of a family-style gathering — continental breakfast, a gingerbread cookie decorating station, and, if they so choose, a visit with Santa.
“If you’re not too sure of him, you can just see Santa is over there,” says Debbie. “And maybe, after other kids go up and talk to him, you might want to talk to him, too.”
What everyone does love, including Debbie and the library staff, is Santa’s arrival via fire engine.
“We get excited, too! We see the firetruck coming up the hill and the sirens going and there he is!” says Debbie, who thanks Northford Fire Department Co. 2 for always safely delivering Santa.
Ahead of Santa’s visit, there’s another special seasonal program that helps makes this Debbie’s favorite time of year in the children’s room — a Thanksgiving-themed celebration with a visit from non-profit Christine’s Critters, including Niblet the turkey. The program’s set for Saturday, Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m. Registration and more information for both programs is at northbranford.librarycalendar.com
Debbie planned her last day at work to coincide with Santa’s visit because it’s the culmination of the fall and holiday programs she’s thoroughly enjoyed overseeing each year. But, it will be hard to say goodbye, she adds.
“It’s going to be a very bittersweet day for me because I love my community. I love my patrons and my families.”
Finding Her Place at Smith Library
As a young mom, Debbie loved bringing her young children to the Guilford Free Public Library, in the town where she grew up. Within a few years, her kids, Jared, then age 8; Tim, age 6; and Kelsey, at 2, were coming in to enjoy programming Debbie was creating as Smith’s Children’s Librarian. She’s since enjoyed sharing programs with her six grandchildren as babies, toddlers, and kids.
For her part, Debbie says an elementary school librarian introduced her to the world of reading.
“I was not a good reader as a child, and she really took the time and the effort to find a book that would make that come alive for me. And that happened to be when the Dr. Seuss books came out. The rhyming is what got me started.”
In college, Debbie studied to be a physical education teacher, but a shortage of teaching jobs in the early 1980s redirected her interest to becoming a librarian. She thanks her mentors including Guilford’s former Children’s Librarian, the late Lana Ferguson, who got to know Debbie as a young mom and, later, as a colleague.
“She really supported me and gave me confidence.”
In 1988, Debbie spotted a posting for Smith’s part-time Children’s Librarian and got the job, followed shortly by her promotion to full-time.
From the start, providing a variety of programs has been Debbie’s priority.
"I’ve always looked at the library as a learning center,” Debbie says. “Even when we were a small library, we had programs and guest visits and sometimes, there was a line out the door! All of the different programs are so important. It really does spark kids’ interest in books, in animals, in drama, in so many areas.”
She’s exceptionally gratified by the huge response the collaborative Story Walks have received in recent years. The outdoor walks, which took off during the pandemic, are presented by Smith and Atwater Libraries with North Branford Parks and Recreation. Oversized, colorful, laminated book pages are displayed along trails at selected parks. Currently, Frederick by Leo Lionni is posted at North Farms Park through Nov. 28. For the winter, the program comes inside to the library.
Debbie notes another cooperative, with North Branford Public Schools, was recently implemented at the Smith and Atwater, where special school book sections are ready for visits by preschool/PreK, grades K to 2 and 3 to 5 students.
The Heart of the Community
When the Smith’s greatly expanded Children’s Room first opened 13 years ago, Debbie had a vision.
“I really wanted the library to be like the heart of the community, and I think it has been that. If somebody’s going to dance or soccer practice or the [Northford Ice Pavillion], their moms will drop them off and then come here with the younger kids. There are really nice places to sit and read and places to enjoy your time here. It’s not just come in and be quiet and check out a book.”
She feels the town’s support in renovating two beautiful, exceptional library buildings helped build important community connections.
“I think the idea of that was to keep the libraries in the neighborhoods,” says Debbie. “I think we always wanted it to be right in your neighborhood, in your traffic route getting back and forth to work [and] getting to school.”
Debbie navigated the Children’s Room through the advancement of technology, while always keeping the importance of children’s books and programs at the forefront. The room serves kids from birth through grade 8.
“There aren’t a lot of computers around the Children’s Room because I feel like they get so much of that at home and at school that it’s nice for them to come here and get away from it.”
In the summer, in addition to her popular Summer Reading Games, Debbie offered reading programs at parks, including those in neighboring towns. Other field trips included an annual Thimble Islands excursion aboard the Sea Mist and visits to Meigs Point Nature Center in Madison.
Debbie also often visited schools to read to kids or lead projects. Those visits are slowly returning, post-COVID, she says. During the pandemic, when the libraries were closed to the public, Debbie and Atwater Children’s Librarian Donna Wiedenmann collaborated to provide programs including “make and take” children’s kits, among other options.
“I think that’s the neat thing about the library, that it is so flexible to serve the community. Now, we know we can weather a storm like that.”
Working with Wiedenmann, Debbie says, “...our cooperation has really blossomed,” including building a schedule of regular offerings which, between the two libraries, provide daily kid-based activities or programs.
“It’s great to have someone you really love sharing with and brainstorming ideas.”
Another colleague Debbie will certainly miss is Smith’s Adult Librarian, Teresa Holabird.
“We have a wonderful relationship – we've been through thick and thin. I love the way Teresa reaches out to the community. They love her, and she loves them. It’s like a big family.”
That’s also how she describes the library staff, which Debbie will miss dearly.
“All of the staff are just so supportive of one another. We’re like family.”
Thinking about everyone who’s supported her through the years, Debbie adds, “I just want to thank all of my colleagues and thank Miss Erin and [director] Ann Marie [McCarthy] over at Family Resource Center and thank my family, too, because there’s times when I’ve been here at work and missed events at home.”
In retirement, Debbie’s hoping to explore some national parks with her husband, Gerry; spend more time with the grandkids and her children and their spouses, and pursue interests and hobbies. She may volunteer a bit at the Smith, too, she says.
As one who has served library patrons who are now parents, and in some cases, grandparents, bringing their youngsters to visit “Mrs. Debbie,” she feels privileged to have experienced working with such an exceptional community.
“The nice thing about working in North Branford and Northford is that a lot of people grow up here and stay in their community, which says a lot about the community. We have a lot to offer families.”
Debbie’s grateful to have had a part in enhancing the growth of Smith’s Children’s Room. She’s confident the Library Board and administration will locate a great successor to carry on the work.
“I feel content in that I think the children’s library has been all it could be here. I’ve grown with it, and I’ve reached out to the community,” Debbie says. “I would really like to pass this torch on to a younger person that can take it to another height, and continue to grow with it and with the kids.”