By Robin Miller/ RMiller@TheReporter.com
Posted: 08/08/2009
Ann Cousineau, director of library services for Solano County (shown here in 2006) has announced she will retire this December. (Joel Rosenbaum / The Reporter)
For decades, she has quietly led the Solano County Library system, heading its expansion of services, working to secure funding and guiding its growth into a multicity provider.
But come this December, Ann Cousineau will be calling it quits.
The longtime director of library services announced she will retire. Her last official day will be Dec. 26.
"I've been in the library business for 36 years," she said. "That's a long time. I want to do some different things and this seems like a good time."
Cousineau started her library career elsewhere but came to the Solano County system some 22 years ago, rising to the directorship 15 years ago.
Choosing a highlight of those years is difficult, she said.
"I would say passing of the sales tax in 1998, which allowed us to stabilize our funding and to build new libraries was key," she said. "And we have done a lot with technology, providing more services to the community."
Cousineau was among those who led the charge to add an eighth-of-a-cent sales tax for libraries in Solano County back in 1998. Her expertise led her to be tapped by the state libraries association to head up subsequent statewide bond measures for libraries.
Those funds, coupled with property taxes all libraries receive, place Solano County libraries in a unique position.
"We are fortunate to have two sources of income," she said, adding that tough economic times have an impact nonetheless.
But Cousineau isn't concerned that her departure will cause problems for the local library system.
She noted that her assistant, Bonnie Katz, will fill in as acting director while the county decides how it wants to handle finding a permanent replacement.
"I have worked with Bonnie for 20 years and I know she'll do a wonderful job," she said.
In fact, Cousineau had nothing but high praise for the people she has worked with in the local library system.
"I always said I had the best job in the county," she said. "Well, that's how they all feel, which, I think, is a testament to their hard work and dedication."
Since she won't retire until December, Cousineau will spend the next few months doing what she's always done, working to see that the library system continues to provide the services residents need, from reading programs to help with Internet job hunting to mortgage workshops.
After retirement she says she thinks she'll "just do nothing for a while," and then plans to travel and maybe go to school to learn Italian.
"I've been to Italy once before but it would be easier if I spoke the language," she explained. "I just think I'll try to do all the things I had no time to do because of my busy work schedule."
