At the end of June Director of the High River Library Deb Gardner is retiring after over 25 years of service. She started on the desks as an assistant in January 1990, and began her role as director in 1994.

Gardner says there's lots to do as director of the library.

"That's a pretty all-encompassing role and it's so diverse because one minute you're doing human relations and another you're doing one on one, and then you're building the collection and then you're trying to find the money to do all of these good things. And they all hinge together, they don't stand alone."

Gardner says one highlight of her time was returning to the library's original location after the 2013 flood.

"It's always the people that'll be the strongest memories. The people you've worked with, the people you've served. Surviving and getting back into this location post-flood, that was a big mountain to climb and well worth the time it took to get here."

She says she's seen the library's collection grown, but the biggest change she's seen is the use of technology.

"When I took my library training, they actually said that we would probably never touch a computer. They knew that they existed, and that they would have a role in libraries but it wouldn't be that hands on, that one-on-one with the machine. And that's just obviously not how it's panned out over the years."

Gardner says she's had the best job, helping people, and it's been very satisfying. She says libraries started with just books, but she's enjoyed seeing the diversification and how they have changed to meet more need over the years.

Gardner says there have been 4 directors of the library since it opened in 1939, and she's had the pleasure of working with 2 of them. She says she's not sure what's next, but she hopes to continue lending a hand and serving the community.