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After 25 years as librarian at Wintermann Library, Vickie Powers will retire July 30, bringing a close to a career dedicated to serving readers of all ages in the Eagle Lake community.
Powers joined the library in 2001 after leaving a law office in Columbus to work closer to home while helping care for her father. She said the opportunity came after Library Board members Betty Wegenhoft and Kate Spalinger encouraged her to apply.
“I felt like God was telling me to come back home,” Powers said.
During her tenure, Powers oversaw numerous improvements at the library, including the addition of computers, renovations to the building’s layout and furniture, and recovery efforts following water damage in August 2025 that required the replacement of several nonfiction bookshelves.
Despite those challenges, Powers said one of the highlights of her career has always been the library’s annual Summer Reading Program and the opportunity to work with local children.
“It’s fun seeing the children of the children that were here when I first started,” Powers said. “It’s just fun to see that.”
Powers said watching generations of families grow up using the library has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career.
As she prepares for retirement, Powers hopes the library will continue serving the community for years to come. She acknowledged finding her replacement may be a challenge, particularly as fewer adults have been using the library in recent years.
The Wintermann Library Board will begin the search for a new librarian following Powers’ retirement.
