Nealon says goodbye to PCPL board

Putnam County Public Library board members said farewell to Bonnie Nealon, third from left, during their meeting Wednesday. Nealon's term is up after serving on the board for 14 years. From left are Vickie Timm, board member; Dorothy Lukenbill, board president; Nealon; Ken Heeke, treasurer; Glenn Gill, secretary; Wes Wilson, board member; and Alice Greenburg, director of the library.

Bonnie Nealon has served on the Putnam County Public Library board for 14 years. In honor of her final meeting as a board member, Nealon seconded every motion Wednesday.

"The years have gone by so quickly," she said following the meeting.

She and her family members are avid readers, which helped draw her to be a part of the library board. However, Nealon never expected to stay for so many years. During her time, she served as president for four years and as secretary for one year.

"It has been a wonderful opportunity," she added.

Some of her first meetings as a member of the board were held at the library's temporary location on Jackson Street. She was appointed when the current building was under construction.

Since Nealon joined the board, there have been two library directors. After 28 years as director of the library, Ellen Sedlack left and Alice Greenburg became her replacement.

"It has been an asset to the library to have both ladies as directors," Nealon said.

She describes the library as a wonderful place with a dedicated staff. "Those are the best things about a library," she said.

She said goodbye to fellow board members during a reception in her honor prior to the meeting. Farewells continued with a dinner following the meeting.

"This has been a great board," she said. "I am proud to have been a part of it."

Aside from serving on the library board, Nealon is the director of application services with DePauw University, where she has worked for 25 years. She and her husband of more than 40 years Ray Nealon have four children.

In regular meeting business, Greenburg told board members there has been a steady increase in the use of library services.

"Internet is up by 28 percent," she said. "The bookmobile is up steadily."

Greenburg also announced the library will be hosting a DNR program July 11. The theme will be backyards -- trees and ponds especially. More information on the program will be available at a later date.

Board member Vickie Timm commended Friends of the Library for its work on behalf of the library. The rest of the board agreed Friends of the Library has been doing a great job raising money.