“Inch by Inch, Life’s a Cinch”: Beloved Head of Programming & Outreach set to retire in 2025 after years of dedication
By Aris Sherwood, Head of Marketing
When Pamela Kampwerth first started at the Huntley Area Public Library, she worked part-time in the Youth-Services Department, mostly working at the reference desk and helping with programs and Storytime’s. Now, 21 years later, she currently serves as the Head of Programming and Outreach, overseeing programming and the local history department, as well as the Friends Foundation staff liaison, and volunteer program coordinator.
Soon, Kampwerth will add ‘retiree’ to her bio, as she is set to retire in February of 2025.
“I have very mixed feelings about it, because I love the library and I love the people,” said Kampwerth during an interview in early October, which just so happened to be the day the job posting for the new Head of Programming went live. “I like the interaction every day with staff and with patrons. I enjoy that, so I will miss some of that.”
Kampwerth was born and raised in a small town in Iowa, and found herself living in Omaha (Nebraska), Minneapolis (Minnesota), and Woodstock (Illinois), where she met her husband, Darrel, and eventually settled in Huntley, Illinois, and has lived here since 1986, living on Hamilton Farms and raising two kids.
She loves to garden, hike, paddle board, and “walk and talk” – going for a walk with a friend and chatting. She is also a volunteer for the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency, where she specifically helps with ground search and rescue.
But most of the time, you can find her at the Huntley Area Public Library, helping with the Friends Foundation book sales, giving tours to new Volunteers, assisting with programs, or aiding the local history department.
“It varies,” Kampwerth said, when asked about her day-to-day schedule. “Like today, I already answered a question about volunteering at the library, and I responded to somebody who had a donation for a holiday basket. So, the day varies.”
And varies it does. At the time of writing, the Friends Foundation are working on their Holiday Basket fundraiser, so Kampwerth is assisting with that. There was a Halloween Party earlier in the day, so she checked in to make sure the programmers had everything they needed and made sure the AV equipment worked, which she does every day. Her office is nestled right in the Volunteer office, which sees different volunteers in-and-out throughout the day, so she’ll check in with them and respond to any Volunteering inquiries. The day before, she assisted with two Local History presentations, one at the library, and one at one of Del Webb’s Sun City neighborhoods.
For 21 years, Kampwerth has worn many hats. In 2009, after working part-time in the youth department, she was hired full-time as the Volunteer Coordinator and Friends Liaison, where she helped the Friends, Foundation become a 501(c)(3) charity and eventually started overseeing the Local History department.
Right before the COVID-19 pandemic, she became Head of Circulation for a period, before finally becoming the Head of Programming & Outreach in 2022, where she still serves as the Friends Foundation liaison, Volunteer Coordinator, supervises the Local History Department.
“I became Head of Programming when the library expanded during the building project, when we expanded to the three program rooms, and the Tech Lab, Creative Studio, and Recording Studio were added,” she notes.
While reflecting on her career here at the library and her current duties, she has many favorite parts, like seeing the stats at the end of every month of how many people have come into the library to go into a program and seeing how many people in our community we reach and offer a program that they are interested in. She also enjoys meeting all the community members, from communicating with outside groups that use the library’s program rooms and meeting Volunteers, to travelling across Huntley to give library presentations with the Local History & Marketing departments, respectively.
“I get to meet some of the most interesting people,” she said. “Hear their stories. They come from so many different backgrounds. I just enjoy meeting all the different people who want to come in
and help support this library.”
But she does enjoy working with the Friends Foundation a lot.
“I was very proud when we reached the $1 million milestone last November,” she said. “And that we continue to raise funds, raising about $60,000 a year for the library…half of that comes from Corner Books and book sales.”
And, of course, she’s had some especially favorite moments throughout her tenure at the library. One event that stands out the most was a Harry Potter event held at a local church. “That was a lot of fun to be a part of that, so that was a highlight” she remarks.
She also mentions when the library celebrated its 20th and 25th anniversaries and getting to participate in the building project and helping to review all the furniture choices.
“Probably the two biggest highlights were when the Friends (Foundation) reached $1million, and when the new building opened,” she said. “When we made the connection, and we were able to open – everything into the new and the old was done. That ribbon cutting, I was very excited to be able to do that for the new building. And then when the Recording Studio opened, that was a major part of that project, and that also felt good when that opened.”
Frank Novak, Director of the Huntley Area Public Library, is especially going to miss Kampwerth.
“Throughout the time that I have known Pamela, I have found her to be thoughtful, conscientious, and proactive,” said Novak. “Her work ethic is unparalleled, and she leads by example. While driven in the workplace, she continually upholds the values associated with the library’s family-first culture. I know I speak for many when I say that Pamela will be missed after she retires. She has been a positive force as a library employee, and her departure will leave a hole in the fabric of all that we do here.”
There is no denying that Kampwerth has made her mark on the Huntley Area Public Library. So, what makes now the right time to retire?
“Because I’m old,” she jokes. “No, it’s because my husband is retiring also, and we’re looking forward to spending time with our grandchildren and traveling. I think that’s what every retiree says.”
She will still be involved in the library in some capacity – this is her home library, after all.
“I will still be here. I am a lifetime Friends member; I can attend programs… and I don’t have to worry about it. Just walk in and sit down.”
Before she officially retires, she will be helping the next Head of Programming & Outreach in the training and onboarding process, teaching a role that, in truth, Kampwerth created herself. While the search continues to find the next person to fill Kampwerth’s ridiculously large shoes, she has some advice – a lesson that she is going to take with her when she leaves.
“I’ve always said, if I’ve learned anything here, it’s ‘inch by inch, life’s a cinch,’” she said. “I think what I’ve learned is, when there’s a big project, just break it down and work at the steps. That goes for programming, for Local History, for Friends, Volunteers, everything. Just look at the picture and then take the little steps to get to where you need to be.”
This story was featured in the January-February 2025 issue of our official HAPL newsletter ‘The Whole Story.’ Read The Whole Story Newsletter here.
