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03/27/2024 08:30 AMFor kids who grew up visiting her at North Branford’s Atwater Library, Donna Wiedenmann is something of a rock star—a WeeRock star, that is.
Since 2007, Donna has led Atwater Children’s Room as its lively and loving children’s librarian. When she came to the job 17 years ago, Donna didn’t have to travel far. She arrived from Northford’s Edward Smith Library, where she joined the staff in 1987.
In all, it’s been an amazing 37 years for Donna of serving North Branford’s library public, and that only made her decision to retire all the more bittersweet. Donna already knows she’s going to miss the special energy that kids bring to her work.
“I’m definitely going to miss coming to work and seeing all those smiling faces and getting hugs and high fives. It’s just amazing what it does for me,” she says.
On Tuesday, April 2, friends, fans, and former kids who grew up with “Miss Donna” are invited to stop in during a retirement celebration for Donna from noon to 5 p.m. at Atwater Library, 1720 Foxon Road.
Donna’s last day serving as Atwater’s children’s librarian will be Thursday, April 11. On that day, the final program she’ll lead is among her favorite (and definitely a fan favorite): WeeRock Story Time. Each session is filled with music, movement, and stories.
“Mostly, I’m pretty known for that,” says Donna. “I do WeeRock three times a week, and I also go to nursery schools and read stories and do the music and movement with them, so it’s like a mini WeeRock.”
Geared for children aged 6 months to 5 years, Atwater’s WeeRock sessions regularly draw groups of 40 or more little ones who ready to learn and play.
“It’s wonderful because you have babies and you have preschoolers, and it’s multigenerational because we have parents, grandparents, nannies...so it’s lots of fun,” says Donna.
After each WeeRock session winds down, the activity in the children’s library ramps us.
“They enjoy the activity, and they want to stay longer, which makes me very, very happy,” says Donna.
The WeeRock sessions underscore Donna’s commitment to her work. Library team member Mike Jones shares this indelible comment that he gathered about Donna’s work ethic from North Branford Library Director Lauren Davis.
“Donna is the type of librarian that other librarians aspire to be,” Davis says. “She is warm and friendly and has a great connection with the children and families in our community. She has a magical way of making everyone feel special and loved. Countless times I have heard children squeal with delight when they see Donna in the children’s room, just pure joy that cannot be contained. That‘s what I will remember most and miss the most about Donna—how important she made people feel.”
Donna says she’s grateful for the opportunity to positively impact children through her work.
“I want them to feel cared for and loved and totally accepted, and I want to give them the opportunity to use their voices and feel free to do that,” says Donna. “I start with that from the smallest ones and, as they continue to come to library and grow into reading on their own, we’re continuing that connection with them through books and the magic of books.”
A Lifetime in North Branford Libraries
Donna was a toddler when she moved to Northford and started visiting her local library.
“The first time I went to the library, I was three or four years old, and I specifically remember going to the Smith with my mom when she got her first library card in Northford. That was the library I went to all the time,” she says. “Then when I was a mom, I brought my kids.”
During those visits, former Smith children’s librarian Patricia Cochrane saw something special in Donna.
“She said, ‘You should apply for this part-time job at the library. You would be perfect for it.’ And so I did, and everything fell into place from there,” says Donna. “My life changed. I do thank Pat Cochrane for that.”
Donna covered all different departments as a librarian with Smith. Her abilities did not go unnoticed by another member of the library team, former North Branford Library Director Robert Hull.
“He always told me he saw a children’s librarian in me, and I would say ‘Oh no, no,’” says Donna, laughing. “He helped to train me and was very encouraging, as was Teresa Holabird, the adult librarian in Northford. She always was telling me, ‘This is what you should do.’”
When the post at the Atwater became available, Donna was ready for the role.
“That’s where I came into my own, and I realized, ‘This is who I am! I’m a children’s librarian,’” says Donna. “I love working with kids, making them feel safe and accepted, listening to what they have to say, and helping them to find that magic in books as they grow.”
Donna says she’ll miss being part of the strong team of library staff across North Branford’s two libraries.
“We are like a family and, as a staff and a community, we really love to help and be there for our community and let them know that, besides all the great people that are here for you, it’s a great place to be,“ says Donna.
Donna has quite a few plans for retirement, including visiting her granddaughter Andie in California (and taking her to the library). Closer to home, Donna’s looking forward to enjoying retirement with her husband Joe. She also plans to get in some gardening and, of course, some reading.
“I’m usually reading children’s books,” says Donna. “I have quite a few books for adults that I’ve been wanting to read!”