Meet the Director

Barry Deitz

I grew up in a house without books.  And not once in all my childhood years were my sister and I ever taken to the public library.  This was not because my parents were reclusive or part of some strange commune!  On the contrary, my mom and dad were wonderful people, generous and loving.  But they did not read books.  And so, with the small exception of books from my school library (always limited to just two!), it was not until I could drive myself that I was ever able to get to libraries and bookstores. 

            The result of this upbringing, of course, is that I have spent as much time in libraries and bookstores as I possibly could ever since.  I have lived my adult life surrounded by books and sharing the love and adventure of reading is my greatest joy. I have worked at nearly every bookstore chain there is over the years, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, and at four libraries in Massachusetts since moving to New England from North Carolina in 2013. 

            To be part of a library as beautiful and historic as the Conant Public Library is truly a dream come true.  Walking into this building gives me a thrill every single time.  Libraries are themselves collections of history, books from every era and age fill the shelves and to walk among the stacks is to walk through the history of storytelling from Homer to John Grisham, and to journey through the lives of everyone from Roman emperors and American presidents to homesteading pioneers and explorers crossing the arctic.  Every book is a doorway, a quest, a pathway to places you can reach through the power of your imagination.

And a library is the heart of a community.  Seeing families come in with their kids, sharing stories, making crafts, learning about the wonder and magic available at the library, these moments can make the library a part of a person’s life all their days.  Almost every week someone comes into the library, looks around for a moment and says, “I used to come in here all the time when I was a kid!”  A library never stops being a place of discovery, and you are never too old to come in, check out a book, and take off on a grand adventure!

Meet the Library Assistant

Patty Dillon

It is my pleasure to introduce myself as your Library Assistant. My name is Patty Dillon. I live in Swanzey, New Hampshire. I moved to Swanzey almost four years ago with my husband and two daughters. Before coming to work at the Conant Public Library, I worked as a library paraprofessional. I ran two libraries in a small town in Massachusetts, serving preschool through fifth grade. I have always loved reading and going to the library. I have very fond memories from my childhood of the library always being a welcoming place where I could explore and be myself. I am currently working on my library science degree through the University of Maine at Augusta online. One of my favorite things to do on my free time is read of course but I also love to explore libraries and bookstores. I love the fact that you can enjoy many amazing adventures through the pages of a book.

I am honored to serve this community and support its lifelong learning, creativity, and connection. To me, a library is more than a place to borrow books—it is a welcoming space for discovery, learning, and belonging, and creating long-lasting connections with the community. I am here to support readers of all ages, students, job seekers, families, and anyone looking for information, inspiration, or a quiet place to think. From books and digital resources to programs, events, and community partnerships, my goal is to make the library a resource that truly serves everyone.

In my short time here, I can see how special this community is, and it already feels like a second home to me. Everyone has been very welcoming, and I am grateful for the connections I have already made and look forward to meeting and getting to know everyone. I have enjoyed the work I have done so far and am excited to bring many more new ideas and offer many more engaging programs and events.

I encourage you to visit the library, explore our collections, attend our programs, and share your ideas with us. Your feedback helps shape our services, and we are always eager to learn how we can better meet your needs.

Thank you for your continued support of the library. I look forward to meeting you and working together to keep our library a vibrant and welcoming place for our entire community.

Meet the Circulation Assistant

Amie Lehane

Libraries have always been an important part of my life. Growing up, my mother would take my siblings and I to the different libraries in the area every week to browse the stacks and let the magic of books settle over us like fairy dust. It was a library book borrowed from my sister’s backpack that first sparked my love of stories. It was through library books that I got to explore different histories, cultures, stories, and thoughts. I love books and reading and I have libraries (as well as my awesome family!) to thank for cultivating this love. 

That’s why I started working in the library. Conant Public Library particularly holds a special place in my heart as I have been a patron here since I was little. Now that I work here, I have fallen deeper in love with this library and the wonderful community of readers and thinkers that flow through its doors. I consider myself lucky to have a job that I adore and it is all because of the wonderful group of librarians and community that this building gathers.

It would bring me joy for everyone to be able to know and love libraries the way I do. If you see me in the stacks I would love to chat with you about libraries, books (especially Middle Grades and Young Adult!), and convince you that The Ranger’s Apprentice is the best Middle Grade series ever written.

When I’m not reading or working at the library, I can be found getting creative with all sorts of art and drooling over vintage clothing.

Meet the Archivist

Acacia Royce

Past Memories, Future Visions

     The history of the modern state of Oregon is nascent, a gurgling happy newborn compared to the hundreds of years of New England states. When I visit my birth land in the west I see movie theaters proudly built in the 1950s, homes constructed in the 1990s, pioneer monuments and trails which were carved out in the late 1800s. Despite the comparatively modern development of the western United States, the people proudly display the hunting gear of their pioneer ancestors. They have built museums dedicated to the discovery of flora, fauna, and landmarks which are not seen in other parts of the world. Main streets greet the visitor with western false fronts which make one reminisce about ghost towns and movies that take place in the Old West.

     One decade quickly becomes one hundred years. A few pioneers quickly become thousands of families with their own unique histories and relationships with their environment. I begin with this to illustrate that the one hundred or so of Oregon’s history as a state has resulted in a rich historical environment, the people proud to share it. This is the origin of I, your archivist. After living in New England for nearly fifteen years, I see how another two or three hundred years of history does not fade into distant memory. It does not become muddled speculation and legend. The people of New England commemorate their families through robust genealogies, architectural styles passed down for generations, and histories of economies come and gone.

     Just in the Conant Public Library’s collection I find memories of things large and small. There are town records, clothes handmade in decades past, and, of course, objects of immense scale like the Henry Pratt organs. Every object is a reminder of someone who saw something important in keeping it and showing it to future generations. As your archivist, my goal is to honor that intention. While the past is the past for many people, I know that it is alive and well for many more. The person who brought in a reading primer one hundred years ago believed in its value past its intended use. One little object gives us a window into how children were taught and how people thought it was best to write for a young audience. I believe we live in an age where folks are willing to listen to their ancestors. New medical therapies emerge based on the observations of doctors experimenting in every age. Writers innovate their styles for the present and future by looking at those that came before them. Economists study the valleys and mountains of history’s financial plans and budgets hoping to bring us toward a practical and prosperous future. History does not produce objects for a museum which people only wish to gawk at.

     I know already that the people of Winchester are eager to connect with their past and learn from their ancestors. As a relative newcomer to the area, I am just as eager and very proud to be your archivist. For the foreseeable future, I will be in the museum cataloging and cleaning the items in its care. I realize that I have many gaps in the knowledge of this town and its history; I invite anyone who would like to meet me, ask questions, or provide me with more information about Winchester’s history to ask for me (Acacia Royce) at the front desk. I can usually be found at the library on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I’m excited to engage with other people passionate about history and hope to share that passion through my work with the museum.