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Librarian bids aloha to patron, staff, volunteers
By Alison Walker: notes2ali@hotmail.com
For more than a decade, Katie Geiger has befriended and assisted hundreds of Hulsey Public Library patrons. Geiger, who served as the children's services librarian, bid farewell to patrons, staff and volunteers during a retirement party held Thursday in her honor.
Guests surprised Geiger by announcing plans to construct a puppet theater in her honor.
Geiger, who joined the staff in May of 1997, also had served as the library's assistant director since Janice Sauer's retirement in 2001.
John Trischitti, Geiger's successor, began working at the library in December. Trischitti already has been nicknamed ‘Mr. T,” by his coworkers and patrons.
Prior to joining the library staff, Geiger worked as a teacher at Good Shepherd Episcopal School in Terrell.
“When I came to the library, the position had been open a year so when I got here I got to make it my own,” Geiger said.
Geiger said her first summer reading program was fairly low key because she joined the staff in May, just prior to the program's kickoff.
“May is really not a good time for a children's librarian to begin a new job, but it gave me a whole year to plan for the next summer program and that was fun,” she said.
Geiger said the summer reading program has grown substantially during the last decade, leveling off to about 500 participants the last couple of years.
“I'm confident it will grow some more under Mr. T.'s direction,” Geiger said.
Geiger said one of the most enjoyable parts of her job has been working with other staff members to plan activities and events.
“One of the fun things we did was write mystery programs to do in conjunction with the summer reading program,” she said.
One year, the bicycle that had been purchased as a summer reading program prize disappeared from the library and participants had to find clues planted in books to try to determine which of the suspects - library staff - had “stolen” it.
“The children caught Mary Witherspoon trying to put it in her car,” Geiger said with a laugh.
Geiger said the library staff treats their patrons with kindness and respect, but they always find ways to entertain each other and make the library a friendly, enjoyable place to visit.
Many library patrons will undoubtedly remember Geiger as the frequent sidekick of Katherine Brittain, one of her coworkers who has developed quite a reputation for dressing in costume for just about any library event.
During her tenure, Brittain and Geiger have dressed as Thing 1 and Thing 2 for Dr. Seuss' birthday, donned flying nun hats and even dressed as a bride and groom for a co-worker's bridal shower.
In fact, according to library director Becky Sullivan, something would be amiss if the twosome came to work without hats on any given holiday.
Geiger said it is hard to narrow down the highlights of her career, but said the success of the adult literacy program is undoubtedly one of them.
“When I began working here I expressed an interest in starting an adult literacy program. Fortunately, that was an idea that was already in the works,” she said.
Geiger said the program, which was implemented about a year after she joined the staff, has enjoyed many successes.
“Our very first tutor was assigned to a man who could not read at all,” Geiger said. “I still remember walking in one day and hearing him read. That gave me goose bumps. It was so exciting and a nice way to start out the program.”
During her career, Geiger also has overseen regular story times for the public as well as numerous day cares, preschools and public schools. She also implemented an after school reading program for children who were participants in the YMCA after-school care program.
Geiger said one of the things she will miss most about her job is the opportunity it provided to meet so many interesting people.
Geiger said some of her fondest memories are of two of the library's frequent patrons - both now deceased - Tex Henson, a Disney animator and Bill Norris, a former jazz pianist.
“Tex would come in when we were showing animated movies and tell us information about them,” Geiger said.
Geiger said Norris would often come in and play the piano, entertaining patrons and staff alike.
Geiger was born in Washington, D.C., Her father met her mother while serving in Hawaii during world War II and brought her back to Washington, D.C. Geiger returned to Hawaii when she was 6 and continued to live there until 1977 when she and her husband Steve made a decision to move.
“After we had a child we decided it wasn't practical to try to live there any more because of the cost of living. We had planned to leave for a couple of years and save some money and return to Hawaii but it didn't work out that way,” Geiger said.
Geiger said when they moved to the continental United States her husband got a job working for UPS.
“We were going to return to Hawaii and buy a house, but the job with UPS turned into a career.”
That career took the couple to several locations including Austin, Houston, Little Rock and Rockwall.
Despite a slight delay of plans - about 30 years - Geiger said they are currently putting the finishing touches on a house in Volcano, Hawaii, located about two miles from Volcano National Park on the main island of Hawaii.
“We bought the property about 10 years ago,” Geiger said. “It wasn't our intention to build a house so soon. We were going to build a one-room cabin, but there was so much red tape we decided to go ahead and build a retirement home.”
Geiger said the home, which her husband began working on in 2005, has a red roof and a wrap-around porch that will allow them the opportunity to enjoy the picturesque scenery of the rain forest year round.
Although Geiger said she would miss Texas, she is looking forward to returning to Hawaii for her retirement.
“Hawaiians are just like Southerners - very kind, generous and friendly.”
The Geigers have two children, Monica, who lives in Denton, and Aaron, who lives in Illinois. They also have four grandchildren, Naomi, Carter, Anabella and Eva.
Geiger can't talk about leaving without getting emotional.
“It's been a great ride,” Geiger said of her life thus far, adding that even though it was never in their plans, Terrell has been a wonderful place to live.
“If I couldn't live in Hawaii, Terrell is where I'd choose to live,” she said.
Geiger said she feels confident that Trischitti will be just as passionate about the job.
Geiger said she couldn't imagine any job that would have brought her more satisfaction.
“It's been my absolute pleasure to serve the children of this community. It's actually the ideal job, it's just time for a change. I feel like I'm leaving it in really good hands.”
Guests surprised Geiger by announcing plans to construct a puppet theater in her honor.
Geiger, who joined the staff in May of 1997, also had served as the library's assistant director since Janice Sauer's retirement in 2001.
John Trischitti, Geiger's successor, began working at the library in December. Trischitti already has been nicknamed ‘Mr. T,” by his coworkers and patrons.
Prior to joining the library staff, Geiger worked as a teacher at Good Shepherd Episcopal School in Terrell.
“When I came to the library, the position had been open a year so when I got here I got to make it my own,” Geiger said.
Geiger said her first summer reading program was fairly low key because she joined the staff in May, just prior to the program's kickoff.
“May is really not a good time for a children's librarian to begin a new job, but it gave me a whole year to plan for the next summer program and that was fun,” she said.
Geiger said the summer reading program has grown substantially during the last decade, leveling off to about 500 participants the last couple of years.
“I'm confident it will grow some more under Mr. T.'s direction,” Geiger said.
Geiger said one of the most enjoyable parts of her job has been working with other staff members to plan activities and events.
“One of the fun things we did was write mystery programs to do in conjunction with the summer reading program,” she said.
One year, the bicycle that had been purchased as a summer reading program prize disappeared from the library and participants had to find clues planted in books to try to determine which of the suspects - library staff - had “stolen” it.
“The children caught Mary Witherspoon trying to put it in her car,” Geiger said with a laugh.
Geiger said the library staff treats their patrons with kindness and respect, but they always find ways to entertain each other and make the library a friendly, enjoyable place to visit.
Many library patrons will undoubtedly remember Geiger as the frequent sidekick of Katherine Brittain, one of her coworkers who has developed quite a reputation for dressing in costume for just about any library event.
During her tenure, Brittain and Geiger have dressed as Thing 1 and Thing 2 for Dr. Seuss' birthday, donned flying nun hats and even dressed as a bride and groom for a co-worker's bridal shower.
In fact, according to library director Becky Sullivan, something would be amiss if the twosome came to work without hats on any given holiday.
Geiger said it is hard to narrow down the highlights of her career, but said the success of the adult literacy program is undoubtedly one of them.
“When I began working here I expressed an interest in starting an adult literacy program. Fortunately, that was an idea that was already in the works,” she said.
Geiger said the program, which was implemented about a year after she joined the staff, has enjoyed many successes.
“Our very first tutor was assigned to a man who could not read at all,” Geiger said. “I still remember walking in one day and hearing him read. That gave me goose bumps. It was so exciting and a nice way to start out the program.”
During her career, Geiger also has overseen regular story times for the public as well as numerous day cares, preschools and public schools. She also implemented an after school reading program for children who were participants in the YMCA after-school care program.
Geiger said one of the things she will miss most about her job is the opportunity it provided to meet so many interesting people.
Geiger said some of her fondest memories are of two of the library's frequent patrons - both now deceased - Tex Henson, a Disney animator and Bill Norris, a former jazz pianist.
“Tex would come in when we were showing animated movies and tell us information about them,” Geiger said.
Geiger said Norris would often come in and play the piano, entertaining patrons and staff alike.
Geiger was born in Washington, D.C., Her father met her mother while serving in Hawaii during world War II and brought her back to Washington, D.C. Geiger returned to Hawaii when she was 6 and continued to live there until 1977 when she and her husband Steve made a decision to move.
“After we had a child we decided it wasn't practical to try to live there any more because of the cost of living. We had planned to leave for a couple of years and save some money and return to Hawaii but it didn't work out that way,” Geiger said.
Geiger said when they moved to the continental United States her husband got a job working for UPS.
“We were going to return to Hawaii and buy a house, but the job with UPS turned into a career.”
That career took the couple to several locations including Austin, Houston, Little Rock and Rockwall.
Despite a slight delay of plans - about 30 years - Geiger said they are currently putting the finishing touches on a house in Volcano, Hawaii, located about two miles from Volcano National Park on the main island of Hawaii.
“We bought the property about 10 years ago,” Geiger said. “It wasn't our intention to build a house so soon. We were going to build a one-room cabin, but there was so much red tape we decided to go ahead and build a retirement home.”
Geiger said the home, which her husband began working on in 2005, has a red roof and a wrap-around porch that will allow them the opportunity to enjoy the picturesque scenery of the rain forest year round.
Although Geiger said she would miss Texas, she is looking forward to returning to Hawaii for her retirement.
“Hawaiians are just like Southerners - very kind, generous and friendly.”
The Geigers have two children, Monica, who lives in Denton, and Aaron, who lives in Illinois. They also have four grandchildren, Naomi, Carter, Anabella and Eva.
Geiger can't talk about leaving without getting emotional.
“It's been a great ride,” Geiger said of her life thus far, adding that even though it was never in their plans, Terrell has been a wonderful place to live.
“If I couldn't live in Hawaii, Terrell is where I'd choose to live,” she said.
Geiger said she feels confident that Trischitti will be just as passionate about the job.
Geiger said she couldn't imagine any job that would have brought her more satisfaction.
“It's been my absolute pleasure to serve the children of this community. It's actually the ideal job, it's just time for a change. I feel like I'm leaving it in really good hands.”
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