MILLERSBURG — For the past 30 years, Gary Stutzman has traversed the rolling hills of Holmes County delivering books and other media offered through the Holmes County District Public Library Bookmobile.
He’ll be the first to admit riding around in the library bookmobile wasn’t the career path he had chosen as he studied biology in college with a minor in Bible studies, but when the opportunity arose in 1988, he was happy to join the library staff and serve the public.
"I had just come off working with the health department for some nine years," Stutzman said. "I got my biology degree paid for. The library wanted someone with a degree, and Feb. 1, 1988, I started not only as a bookmobile staff, but also as maintenance supervisor making sure the furnace was working, changing lightbulbs and sweeping off the sidewalk at the library downtown on West Jackson Street."
When he first started, the bookmobile served all the elementary schools in the county with no public stops.
"That has changed radically," he said. "Now we basically just service the elementary schools out east and some public stops, due to the heavy readership of the Amish enrollment. We’re out four evenings a week into the communities. We have a great variety going for us with the tremendous support from the schools, but the public stops as well. At one stop, we had to divide the time because all the school kids coming in and the public, made it too congested.
"It’s been quite a privilege serving this way," he continued. "We have great patrons who appreciate what we do very much. That helps keep us going."
Stutzman says they do a lot of request work.
"We are eager to know what people are not finding on our shelves, to make sure if they can wait five weeks until we make a return trip, we’ll have it for them," Stutzman said. "The consortium of libraries we’re involved with, the 80-some libraries is quite a phenomenon."
Holmes County Library Executive Director Bill Martino says dedicated staff members like Stutzman are extremely valuable to the library operations.
"Gary has been a tremendous asset to the Holmes County Library," Martino said. "I have known him for the past seven years and his dedication, humility and sense of humor continue to impress me on a daily basis.
"As one can imagine, Gary has seen a lot of change over the past 30 years at the library and, in particular, on the bookmobile," Martino continued. "He has a wealth of great stories and tales from the road and always relays them with a twinkle in his eye."
Stutzman, who is on his fifth bookmobile since joining the staff, says the changes in technology have been the biggest adjustment. He takes his job very seriously, noting that getting books and other items out to patrons is a privilege he enjoys.
There have been a couple instances when driving down back country roads, the bookmobile has encountered a loaded skid steer with a big bale in front of it.
"They couldn’t see us coming and in one instance, we had to stop and start backing up, because they kept coming at us," Stutzman said. "We were blowing on the horn, and eventually, the drive finally looked around and saw us."
He recalled getting stuck back by Holmes Limestone when they were in business on state Route 241, and being rescued by one of their bucket trucks.
And another memorable adventure.
"We were at a farm where several ladies were getting together. They had three tables together with linens and decorated with fancy cakes for a summertime party," Stutzman said. "We were there just before the party started, but we couldn’t get the bus started. We had to have Riggz Towing come and get us. We were the entertainment that afternoon for those ladies. That was the last time we took the old Bluebird out.
"It is such a relief to have this new bus," he continued. "We ran as long as we could with that old one."
Phil Yoder, another longtime staffer, recalled the time they had to distribute books out of the back of his pickup.
"People set up tables and we put the books out," he said. "We did what we had to to get the job done."
Stutzman recalled that one of the young Amish students he served many years ago recently ran into him on a stop and after a warm greeting, told him to continue blessing the kids.
"I was amazed he remembered my name," Stutzman said. "I never thought of what we do that way. It has been a privilege to serve, and we could not serve all these places if we were still doing cards. We spent seven hours a week doing data work, alphabetizing and organizing cards for the stops. As a result of technology, we are able to serve so many more people.
"I still get a kick out of my work. I thank God for what I find in my job and the people I work with. I enjoy driving to work and driving at work," he continued. "I always kid they don’t let me drive outside of Holmes County. I learned how big and varied this county is when I worked with the health district. This seemed like a natural progression."
"I would argue that Gary knows his way around this county better than anyone else around," Martino added. "Gary Stutzman is a true Holmes County Library legend."
Reporter Kevin Lynch can be reached at 330-674-5676 or klynch@the-daily-record.com.