Duane Hicks
After more than three weeks on the job, Caroline Goulding already is comfortable as the new CEO of the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre.
“It’s a beautiful facility; very well-used,” noted Goulding, who arrived here from Bracebridge, Ont., where she worked as a Children’s and Youth Services librarian.
“My [office] door’s always open so I see people going past; I hear the guitar playing sometimes or the piano,” she remarked, adding the library “is clearly very well-loved.”
Goulding also said it’s clear the library is offering “very varied programming that reaches a lot of different types of people and a lot of different interests, which is quite impressive.”
“We have everything from a book club to our ‘Storytimes’ to our tween club to our Magic Days to our Pokémon to our knitters’ circle,” she enthused.
“It feels like I’m constantly learning about a new program the library offers and it’s very exciting.”
For now, Goulding is focusing what she can offer to help complete the strategic plan that was laid out by the previous CEO Alicia Subnaik Kilgour and the local library board.
She said she’s still getting a feel for the organization—and isn’t going to act too quick to make any changes.
“Just because I’ve done something differently in the past doesn’t mean that that’s the right way to do it,” Goulding admitted.
As for the community itself, Goulding said “everyone has been incredibly welcoming.”
“I don’t know how many people I’ve had stop by just to say, ‘Hi,’ and introduce themselves, which is great,” she noted.
“There’s people from around the community and just library patrons themselves,” Goulding added.
“I had a little Grade 4 walk up and say, ‘Are you the new boss?’”
Goulding also has gotten out a bit. For instance, she played in the ladies’ scramble at Kitchen Creek Golf Course last Tuesday, where she was welcomed by local golfers.
“It’s a beautiful town. Everyone’s been really, really welcoming,” she reiterated.
“It’s great for a walking,” she added. “I have a little dog so I’ve been wandering around my neighbourhood.”
Goulding is a University of Waterloo graduate in arts (Classics) and business.
She later earned a Master of Library Science degree at McGill University in Montreal.
