With a new central library finally under construction, Steven Kraft believes it’s the right time to step away. The Guelph Public Library (GPL) CEO will retire in a month, after having spent his entire 41-year career with the organization.
“It’s time to do something new for me,” he said, noting he’s been asked by several people why he’s not waiting until the new library opens in 2026. “I’m confident (the new library) will be completed and it’s time to hand the reins to the next generation.”
It would be exciting to be there for the ribbon-cutting, Kraft acknowledged, adding it would feel awkward to then say, “Hey, this is a beautiful office, it’s time (for me) to go.”
The GLP board of directors announced Kraft’s upcoming retirement through a Tuesday afternoon news release. Kraft is set to leave GLP at the end of February.
“What’s the best thing about the job? The people. What’s the worst thing about the job? Just like any job, it’s the people too,” said Kraft. “Every day is a challenge but it’s a pleasurable challenge.”
Kraft joined the library in September of 1983, straight out of university. He was hired as a part-time children’s reference librarian, a position he held for six or seven years before getting a full-time spot, followed by a move to the information management department.
“To be honest, I had applied for several jobs right out of library school and … (GPL) was the first one to offer me a job so I thought I better take it,” Kraft said of what first attracted him to Guelph.
“It turned out to be a good gig,” he added, noting it’s rare for someone to spend their entire career within a single library system. “I’m going to miss it but I’m looking forward to doing something else.
“Guelph really is a wonderful community and I think the library is the last free service in town, in a way. … We really do see a cross section of the community.”
For the past nine and a half years Kraft has served as the library’s CEO and chief librarian.
Asked how the library has evolved during his time there, the CEO pointed to the growth of digital technologies and services.
“The steady constant are the people. Guelph still has a great community of readers, regardless of the format,” he said, recalling how it used to be that something as simple as a spelling error could frustrate card catalogue search efforts.
“Computers have come along. They’ve saved our lives in many ways,” Kraft continued. “They’re a wonderful search tool, but also technology has been a wonderful assistant to many readers as well and now we’re reading in different formats.
“Print is still incredibly popular.”
Beyond that, he’s seen some items come and go through the years. No longer does GPL have a vinyl record collection available to borrow from. CDs and DVDs may be headed for the same fate.
Following his retirement, Kraft plans to spend the summer on his family’s rural property near Grand Bend and take on some renovation projects there, as well as reading.
At this point, he’s not sure what will follow.
“I’ll probably do a lot of volunteer work and things like that,” Kraft said.
As the library board looks for its next CEO, deputy CEO Dan Atkins will take on the role of interim-CEO on March 1.
“Dan’s going to be a great leader for the staff,” said Kraft.
