Idyllwild Librarian Shannon Ng has moved up in the Riverside County Public Library System (RCPLS). Although her Dewey Decimal System number remains the same, she is now one of three deputy directors, though “Interim” precedes her current title.

In early February, she was balancing her two positions, but on Friday, Feb. 10, RCPLS told her to step into her new responsibilities full-time. She is deputy for the western portion of the county. This includes 11 local libraries, but unfortunately, not Idyllwild.

“I will miss working at Idyllwild,” Ng said. “It is near and dear to my heart and it has a good strong team.”

In 2012, when she started at Idyllwild, it was shortly before the current library facility opened in Strawberry Plaza. For the past 18 months her librarian responsibilities have included the Anza Valley Community Library, too.

Ng brought impressive credentials to her positions. She has a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from UCLA, an undergraduate degree in English from California State University, San Bernardino, and additional postgraduate studies in English and Library science.

Ng has four children, is very close to her niece and has five grandchildren, too. Her three daughters are still in California. Ng was born in Southern Illinois and her father was an Air Force colonel, which is an important background element.

When asked why she was moving on, her first response was, “It’s a domino effect. Library director got a different job, another interim moved up, jobs roll over.”

But eventually, she admitted, “I’m a military brat. I can’t stay in one job a long time. I need change. I’m really good at change and new challenges. Every organization needs change and it’s time for fresh blood.”

Her career began in 1980 as a law librarian. After 42 years as a library professional, Ng has seen numerous changes in libraries and their operations.

“Tons of change in my career,” she began. “When I started, everything was done by hand, now it’s virtual. There has been a huge jump into ‘e-books’ and audio books.

Earlier this month, Vermont State University announced that it was shifting to an all-digital library system as of July 1. University leadership said this would enable students to access study materials from home or elsewhere without having to come to campus. However, librarians will be available to help students find research sources.

“The future for hard back books may change. Books are never going away, but their format will be different,” Ng said, and then drew the analogy to music on tapes and CDs. “The LP vinyls are still here, just vintage now.”

Another change Ng has helped establish is the shift to patrons from the primary purpose of protection and care of the library’s collections. “Service has changed,” she acknowledged. “In my first job, the focus was on the right order of the collection. Now the focus is on the people.

“Even at Idyllwild, when I started, the focus was on collections and has shifted to people. The staff provides superb customer service,” she said proudly.

She mentioned another change — no more late fees — that is being considered in Riverside County and has already been implemented in other counties and states. Los Angeles and San Diego have already abandoned the practice as well as New York. Several Riverside city libraries have adopted this policy, too. RCPLS may decide in the next month or two.

Another significant change in library services is the introduction or expansion of social service opportunities, Ng noted. “There is more focus on uses when the doors open. For example, access to the lounge for the homeless. Some libraries now have social workers …

“We don’t spend a lot of time working directly with them, but we do have ways to serve them,” she stated. “Although they have no address, they are still patrons and the library is theirs too.”

Other examples of the library’s expansion of services or community opportunities, Ng added, were opening the facility for nonlibrary purposes, such as COVID testing, vaccines and blood donations. Then she stressed, “We’ve become a community center.”

Among her memories of the 10 years at Idyllwild Library is working with the Friends of the Idyllwild Library, an organization with a century of history, she noted. “They are partners with the library.”

There has been an increase in the number of book clubs. Now fiction is not the only topic, there are children’s books and a president’s book club among other new additions.

The Idyllwild Library is not the sole source of Ng’s attention and joy living in Idyllwild. She has volunteered for the Idyllwild Scholarship Fund and is still a member. She has maintained her connections with the Girl Scouts, as a member of the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council in Redlands, and has interest in a Daisy or Brownie troop here.

For five years she was on the Idyllwild Community Fund and served as president for four years — 2017 to 2021.

Ng is looking forward to her new work. “It’s going to be fun. I know I’ll feel a little guilty leaving Idyllwild,” she lamented. “It’s a wonderful team and I had a great time.”