Day to day, students and community members alike visit the BCCC Library. Whether that be to use the computers to lock in for an assignment due at 11:59 p.m., actually checking out a book, studying or being tutored at the Academic Success Center, or 3D printing a present for a birthday party you forgot about at the Media Lab. Its Learning Resources in the 60 years its been open, are vital to the community at the college.
But all of that would possibly have never happened if it were not for the extensive work of one man, Lester Minkel.
The library hosted a birthday party in Library Learning Studio 220 on September 29th—complete with both vanilla and chocolate cake—partly as a traditional birthday party, but also to celebrate the man who provided the foundation to make it all happen.
Lester was the college’s very first librarian, who came out of retirement specifically to help build the library’s collection in its infancy. Gathering hundreds of books and then combing and filing every single one of them. Fond memories and photos shared during the presentation showed him in Cottage 1—the library’s first location—meticulously pouring over book after book in a cave or nestlike structure of them with him in the middle like a fledgling. Much like an artist at work, the organized chaos of establishing a library is no small feat.
Kelly Deeny, the library’s Interlibrary Loan and Records Technician since August of 2022, held the presentation dictating his life leading up to and into being a librarian at the college.
“It meant a lot to honor Lester. Though he wasn’t our librarian for long [referencing him coming out of retirement not once but twice, the latter being the college], he got us started. That meant everything because it ended up being everything. His family was so welcoming, sharing information.”
The Minkel family was also in attendance, sharing memories of Lester. It felt like family gathering at a holiday, sharing stories, whenever they eagerly chimed into Deeny’s presentation.
Speaking on the what it was like to have them in attendance, Deeny had this to say: “For me, it was a fulfilling experience. I could visualize an iridescent string between past, present, and future. I hope the event will lead to more people learning about him and this college [because of seeing the impact he had and the community that has since flourished].”
For those in attendance, a packed room even of current and former faculty, students new and old, that the library and its history and community accrued over the years has been nothing short of incredible.
But one cannot simply talk about the library without talking about its people. A library without the people who love it is just a collection of books sitting in a building, a heart without blood cells.
Deeny exemplifies what it means to be a librarian, let alone to love what you do and put all of yourself into it. In addition to being a core member of the library staff, Deeny also won the Best Club Advisor award for her work with the school’s Tyler Literary Society. She may also be found pouring over the archives, such as heading the Bucks in Time archival project which features testimonials from students current and former on their memories.
Speaking on her love of library and archival science, Deeny shares a history of two parts: As a child, she speaks fondly of the library, “Loved being in them and the magic of it [all].”
Some people may even remember her from the latter part of her history, having worked at the Yardley branch of the Bucks County Free Library approximately 6 years ago. “It opened my eyes that I loved being in this environment and helping people.”
And help people she did. A regular happy face behind the service desk at the Newtown branch, she is a welcoming presence to everyone.
As for her love of archival in particular, Deeny describes it as being second nature after delving into a lifelong love of genealogy. Having Irish ancestor, Deeny sought to complete her family’s history, culminating even to a journey to Ireland itself, which she has described as “nothing short of magical”.
For more information about the library, interested persons may contact the library directly at 215-968-8009, the Epstein at 267-685-4825, the Perkasie at 215-258-7721, text any question to 215-970-7123, or visit the library portion of the Bucks CCC website at bucks.edu/library.