After 31 years as the children’s librarian for the Sampson-Clinton Public Library System, Gail Buckrham retired mid-July, taking with her, she said, the memories of the thousands of children she worked with throughout her years.

Buckrham’s career at the library began in 1978 after she saw the job advertised in the newspaper. She holds degrees in sociology and library science from N.C. Central University, which qualified her for the job.

The last of the original staff at the library, Buckrham said she has been “blessed” to work with good staff members over the years and six or seven directors, all of whom she “enjoyed” getting to know.

Sampson-Clinton Library director Heather Bonney, who has worked with Buckrham since 2002, said she was a joy. “Gail would do anything asked of her without a complaint and with a smile on her face ... She’s the easiest person to work with.”

At the start of Buckrham’s career, the library was located on Connestee Street. “We didn’t have a lot of room (in the children’s library),” Buckrham remembered, “but we had a lot of fun.” Once the library moved to its current Graham Street location, the former children’s librarian said her area became much larger, which allowed a higher capacity of children and more books.

Just before retiring, Buckrham said she saw about 100 children per week between the four Sampson-Clinton libraries. “Over (almost) 32 years, I’ve seen a lot of babies,” she exclaimed.

“It’s well into the thousands (the number of children) that she has touched over the years,” Bonney reported. Just in the last year, Buckrham directed more than 400 programs, which involved about 10,000 children, and 40 percent of the library’s circulation is credited to the children’s library.

Bonney added that when she has told people she works at the library, they will always ask if Buckrham is still there. They always speak of her fondly, Bonney acknowledged, adding that most of them also share memories of Story Time.

Story Time has been Buckrham’s favorite part of the job. “Nothing will take the place of the books,” she remarked, and good, old-fashioned Story Time, which allowed her to sit down and interact with the children. Buckrham said the youngsters she worked with in the beginning would eventually bring their children and grandchildren to the library. They’d always ask her, “You’re still here?” She refers to them as her “Story Time babies,” but they’ve grown up to be police officers, fire fighters, doctors, lawyers, teachers and “most any profession you can think of.”

Buckrham commented, “They’re doing so well. It makes me so proud.”

Robert Bradshaw, who has worked with Buckrham during the Summer Reading Program for the last few years, pointed out how well behaved the youngsters always are, without Buckrham ever having to raise her voice. When asked her secret, Buckrham smiled and said, “First of all, you have to show love to the kids. They can pick up on it if you are there for them or just a paycheck.” She continued, “If you respect them, they’ll respect you. If you make each one of them feel special, they won’t have the need to cut up for attention.”

In addition to working with children during Story Time and the Summer Reading Program, she also helped youngsters choose and find books that would interest them. Though her job had several responsibilities, to her the most important one was teaching youth to enjoy reading. “I encourage reading and make it fun ... You can go any place in the world and do anything with a book. Children should learn to read and comprehend and read anything they enjoy,” Buckrham expressed.

She also encourages parents to start reading early with their children, even while they are in the womb. “Read to the children and when they learn let them read to you ... Parents just don’t have the time anymore ... I encourage them to take out some time,” Buckrham stated.

Although her retirement concludes this chapter in her own life’s story, Buckrham said she’s looking forward to the next one. Her goal is to return to school to earn her doctorate in theology, and also to teach at Outreach Bible College in Fayetteville, where she earned her masters degree. You’re never too old to learn or improve yourself, Buckrham declared. She also plans to travel with her three best friends who are already retired. And, she even plans to come back to the library to visit and read to “her babies” again at Story Time because she said she will surely miss them.

Buckrham will be missed as well, according to Bonney. “Children know when someone truly likes them, likes being around them and enjoys them. A lot of people like children, but Gail loved them and they knew it.”

Amy Kelly can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 119 or by e-mail at sigov@myclintonnc.com.