PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Libraries have changed a lot in 24 years. 

 

They have gone from having large card catalogs to find the book with the information the patron needs, later adding desktop computers, to now being able to check out wireless hotspot times, iPads, hands-on learning tools for children, a telescope, to a 3D printer.

 

You can even eat and drink in one portion of the library. But, shhh! You still have to keep your voice down.

 

At the Berkshire Athenaeum, all of that transition was made under the leadership of Ronald Latham, who served as director from 1992 until his retirement in 2016.

 

On Wednesday, during the first National Library Week Latham had not been on the job in years, the Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum paid homage to Latham's service with the unveiling of a portrait of Latham the two organizations had painted and will hang in the library.

 

"During his tenure, he oversaw a period of vast changes in library services and patron expectations. Under his leadership, public technology use has grown from automated catalogs and desktop computers to iPads and 3D printing." Friends of Berkshire Athenaeum President Amy Chin said. "Thanks to Ron's forward thinking, the Athenaeum made room to house a collection of 70,000 reels of microfilms which might have been lost when a federal facility was closed."

 

Chin said the library transformed to one of "things" to adjust with the trends over the years, all under Latham's leadership. She also recalled his dedication to promoting literacy through nearly every type of county literacy program — from "battle of the books" to Read Across America to pajama day at the museum.

 

"Literacy for all ages has been a particular interest to Ron as demonstrated with his leadership with the literacy volunteers of Berkshire County as well as his personal energies invested in the Rotary Club's dictionary project, putting quality hardbound dictionaries in the hands of every city third-grader for over a decade," Chin said.

 

Chin said the friends and Latham worked well together and Latham got his hands dirty when needed. She remembered when the heating system was being repaired and the Friend's book sale collection had to be moved. When it was completed, Latham "almost single-handedly" put together all of the shelving units in time for the next sale. 

 

"Over the years, Ron has truly been a friend to the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum. He's always been willing to listen and accept out suggestions and has offered suggestions and guidance. This rapport works both ways. When Ron brought us a list of needs for the library, the friends readily agreed," Chin said.

 

The library's Board of Trustees Chairman John Murphy said he "couldn't ask for any better director." He said not only did Latham promote literacy and lead through a change in offerings, Latham changed the physical appearance.

 

"He led the Athenaeum through several renovations, changing the face of the circulation department, children's department, and reference department, and creating the very special place that is the local history department — a wonderful improvement," Murphy said. 

 

Latham's final renovation was the creation of a food zone in the Berkshire Athenaeum. 

 

The former director didn't want to take all the credit. He said none of that would have been possible if it weren't for those organizations and the staff.

 

"Quite frankly this is an outstanding organization not because of one person but because of the team we have, the outstanding staff who every day are the front lines providing extraordinary service," Latham said.

 

Later adding, "while I am extraordinary proud, I do want to thank all of those folks, the trustees, the friends, the staff, who made the 24 years here at the Berkshire Athenaeum my happiest professional years."

 

After the portrait commissioned by the trustees and the friends was unveiled, Latham was impressed with the work. The portrait was painted by local artist Michael Rousseau. 

 

The timing of the honor comes during National Library Week. There are a series of events the Athenaeum has scheduled to celebrate the week. 

 

"Libraries are not just about what we have for people but what we do for and with people. Libraries have long served as trusted and treasured institutions," the city's Director of Administrative Services Roberta McCulloch-Dews read from a proclamation from Mayor Linda Tyer honoring the week. 

 

"They open a world of possibilities through the power of reading, innovative programming and a host of resources," McCulloch-Dews said.

 

The Berkshire Athenaeum particularly opened possibilities for current Director Alex Reczkowski. 

 

"This library has really transformed me. I am so thankful that in my six years that I've been here, most of which under the directorship of Ron Latham, I feel I have learned how to grow, how to be a better community member, how to be a leader, and how to be a better citizen," he said. 

 

Following in Latham's shadow, Reczkowski hopes to bring that same level of transformation to the patrons of the library. He read a passage from the book Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance about empowering citizens with a sense of controlling their own destiny. At the Athenaeum, he's hoping to help empower the patrons to do that. 

 

"We have a staff here that helps our patrons answer their questions. That's our job. We are here to help find answers to these questions," Reczkowski said. 

 

Whether it is what books should be read to a toddler to how to print out Department of Motor Vehicle forms to what ship did a family's ancestors arrive in America on, Reczkowski said the Berkshire Athenaeum will be dedicated to helping to find answers to every question.