After 50 years working in libraries, we say farewell to Diane Williams

Library staff will be waving off a very special and long serving colleague at the end of June. Diane Williams will be retiring from Penarth library, just a couple of months shy of 50 years of dedicated library service. She started work at the Central Library in Cardiff in September 1972, little guessing that she had found a life-long vocation that we are all so grateful for.    

Diane’s first stint at Penarth library was from 1974 when she worked alongside her mother Doreen for several years. There followed various posts in Cardiff libraries, including 8 years at Roath and spells at Grangetown and Splott, along with relief work at other branches. In 1990, Diane found her way back to the Vale with a transfer to Barry Library and then a move even closer to home at Penarth Library from 2004.

Diane has a wonderful sense of humour and has been a great colleague to work alongside, we are all really going to miss her sense of fun! Her wealth of knowledge and experience, gained over the past 50 years will also be sorely missed. She is recognised – even amongst librarians - as being extremely well read and knowledgeable about all things literary, from contemporary novels to classics and poetry. Diane is the go-to person when you’re stuck for what to read next and her suggestions populate more than half of the Staff Recommends section of the library. In fact, there are some Penarth Library customers who will only read what she recommends! She has always been quick to throw herself into organising and participating in library activities, and some of our best photos of her over the years show her in costume as she relishes getting into character when dressing up is in order, such as for the Penarth Summer Festival or a children’s activity or fundraiser.

Diane is modest and will hate the fuss, but we will be sending her off in style at the end of the month. With her voracious appetite for reading, we will also be ready to give her a big welcome back in July when she returns to exchange her books as a library customer for the first time in 50 years!

Happy retirement Diane!