INDIANAPOLIS — This year’s observance of National Library Week, April 9 – 15, celebrates the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians to promote and support library use. The Indianapolis Public Library is proud to share the story of the longest-tenured librarian in the Library’s illustrious 144 year history.
This year, IndyPL celebrates Sharon Bernhardt’s 50th year of continuous service, the most for any Library employee past or present. Her introduction to the Library as a page at the Eagle Branch, then located in a strip center on Tibbs Avenue, served as “a good first ‘real’ job” while attending Northwest High School. Continuing to work at the Library throughout her postsecondary schooling, Bernhardt graduated in 1973 from Marian College (now University) with the goal of becoming a social worker. After earning her Masters of Library Science in 1978, Bernhardt’s stay has become her calling.
After two stints at the Eagle Branch as a clerk and library assistant, she moved to the Haughville Branch where she was a children’s librarian for four years. Next it was on to the former Marwood Branch for four years as a children’s librarian. Her first branch manager’s position came at the former Prospect Branch where she also served as the children’s librarian.
Then came positions at the former Wanamaker Branch as manager and adult librarian; a return to the Eagle Branch as manager (“at that time my lifelong career goal”); manager at the Nora Branch and Area Resource Manager for eight Library locations. “In addition to my ARM duties, I am the circulation ARM working with patron issues, process and policy changes.”
In 2015, Bernhardt was named Interim Director of Public Services, a position highlighted by her focus on the merger of the Beech Grove Public Library with IndyPL in the summer of 2016. She has now returned to the ARM role where her attention is split among the Nora, Glendale, College Avenue, Fountain Square, Garfield Park, Southport and Beech Grove branches, as well as the InfoZone in The Children’s Museum.
Sharon Bernhardt feels that her calling at IndyPL isn’t done quite yet. “I have no immediate plans to retire. Maybe in a year or two.”
