Helen Breen was a well-known face at the Narrabri library.
From The Courier, February 19, 2004:
Miss Breen, who has been the friendly face at the library desk for over for years, has now announced that she is closing the book on her career.
“I took three months’ long service leave and at the end of it with some serious health problems in between, decided I would retire from the position.
“I must say I have enjoyed every day of my working life at the library.
“I have seen generations of kids start reading and grow up.
“I have had a long and enjoyable association with the infants and primary schools whose kids have come in every week for many years and I have come to know many lovely teachers over that time.
“And I have always had a very good association with our regional body, the Central Northern Library in Tamworth.”
Miss Breen took over the town librarian’s position from another long-serving and affectionately remembered predecessor, Miss Bella Gray – always ‘Miss Gray’ to her borrowers.
The library then was housed in the old School of Arts building on the corner of Barwan and Doyle Streets and later in the old Town Hall before moving into its present location in the former Municipal Council Chambers.
Miss Breen is retiring at a time when the community’s reading rate shows no sign of slackening off.
She has been there for the introduction of computerised cataloguing and the internet era and is leaving as the library is poised to expand into a bigger area.
“I will miss it,” she acknowledged.
“It has been good to work at a job I love, in a wonderful community with many friends.”
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