mjackson@escalontimes.com
He has more than two decades of service invested in the Stockton - San Joaquin library system and Bill Walker is happy to be here.
Recently assigned to take over as head librarian for the Escalon Branch Library, Walker has embraced his new community and wants to invite residents to utilize the services available at the local branch.
"It's nice meeting people, they like to talk and I like to talk," Walker said of greeting patrons that come to the library.
He also has enjoyed getting to know his new co-workers.
"I just knew coming over here that I would like the staff," Walker pointed out.
Taking over the top spot on July 1, Walker is just finishing up his first month on the job at Escalon.
"People are certainly finding me," he said, smiling, noting that residents have welcomed him to the community.
Previous work experience for Walker has included social work and time spent in the Peace Corps for a couple of years.
"It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do," he admitted.
After completing his Peace Corps assignment, Walker then worked five years as a library assistant before going back to school, attending the library school at Berkeley. He obtained his MLIS, Master of Library and Information Studies, in 1989.
He was born and raised in Stockton and has spent much of his career with the library system at the downtown Stockton branch, in addition to a year in Manteca. But he is enjoying the small town surroundings he now finds himself in.
"I've never really lived in a small town," he said. "I'm just discovering all the things I can walk to."
That includes a variety of food and services available in the downtown area close by the library, he said.
Walker also took in the city's annual Park Fete celebration earlier this month, enjoying the music, crowds and camaraderie.
"I actually ran it once," he added of the Park Fete 10K run, "but I'm not that ambitious anymore."
Now, his ambitions are leading him to find out what Escalon residents want in their library.
"I'm kind of figuring out what Escalon would like, I'm planning more programming and outreach," he said.
Like many library employees, Walker has been in Escalon before, albeit briefly several years ago when filling in. At that time, the community did not have the facility it does now and Walker said the current library is a little jewel for the community.
"It's sure a wonderful building," he noted. "I would like to get more people to come in."
A variety of programs are still going on this summer, ranging from a teen gaming tournament slated for Thursday, July 31 to a gem and mineral program on Saturday, Aug. 2 and a family movie afternoon on Saturday, Aug. 9.
Walker said his immediate goal is to encourage residents to utilize the facility more, taking advantage of all the services it has to offer. That includes not only the books, computers and programs, but also the knowledge that the staff has to share.
The library is at 1540 Second Street.
He has more than two decades of service invested in the Stockton - San Joaquin library system and Bill Walker is happy to be here.
Recently assigned to take over as head librarian for the Escalon Branch Library, Walker has embraced his new community and wants to invite residents to utilize the services available at the local branch.
"It's nice meeting people, they like to talk and I like to talk," Walker said of greeting patrons that come to the library.
He also has enjoyed getting to know his new co-workers.
"I just knew coming over here that I would like the staff," Walker pointed out.
Taking over the top spot on July 1, Walker is just finishing up his first month on the job at Escalon.
"People are certainly finding me," he said, smiling, noting that residents have welcomed him to the community.
Previous work experience for Walker has included social work and time spent in the Peace Corps for a couple of years.
"It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do," he admitted.
After completing his Peace Corps assignment, Walker then worked five years as a library assistant before going back to school, attending the library school at Berkeley. He obtained his MLIS, Master of Library and Information Studies, in 1989.
He was born and raised in Stockton and has spent much of his career with the library system at the downtown Stockton branch, in addition to a year in Manteca. But he is enjoying the small town surroundings he now finds himself in.
"I've never really lived in a small town," he said. "I'm just discovering all the things I can walk to."
That includes a variety of food and services available in the downtown area close by the library, he said.
Walker also took in the city's annual Park Fete celebration earlier this month, enjoying the music, crowds and camaraderie.
"I actually ran it once," he added of the Park Fete 10K run, "but I'm not that ambitious anymore."
Now, his ambitions are leading him to find out what Escalon residents want in their library.
"I'm kind of figuring out what Escalon would like, I'm planning more programming and outreach," he said.
Like many library employees, Walker has been in Escalon before, albeit briefly several years ago when filling in. At that time, the community did not have the facility it does now and Walker said the current library is a little jewel for the community.
"It's sure a wonderful building," he noted. "I would like to get more people to come in."
A variety of programs are still going on this summer, ranging from a teen gaming tournament slated for Thursday, July 31 to a gem and mineral program on Saturday, Aug. 2 and a family movie afternoon on Saturday, Aug. 9.
Walker said his immediate goal is to encourage residents to utilize the facility more, taking advantage of all the services it has to offer. That includes not only the books, computers and programs, but also the knowledge that the staff has to share.
The library is at 1540 Second Street.
