Jim Myers Retires

Where to Begin?

Jim Myers, manager of the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center at the Orlando Public Library retired June 11, 2026, after 36 years with the Orange County Library System.

While pondering how to begin a post about someone who has been an integral part of OCLS for the past 36 years and impacted the lives of so many, it became clear that a mere recitation of his accomplishments would not suffice.

What came to mind are the qualities he embodies — compassion, empathy, gratitude, humility, humor, openness to new ideas, his love of music and writing, and best of all, his ability to relate everyday events to song lyrics and joyously share them with others.

Like other great philosophers — Aristotle, Plato, Dylan and the immortal Joe Strummer — Jim’s words and wisdom will continue to inspire, encourage and motivate his colleagues for decades to come.

Thank you, Jim, for 36 years of service, dedication and leadership to the Melrose Center, the Library and our community!

Reflections on 36 Years at OCLS

Jim reflected on his 36-year career at the Orange County Library System with videographer Jesse Draus in June 2026. Melrose Center Audio Production Instructor Trevor Clark added a montage of photographs set to Jim’s song “Sunny 66,” a “library story with Jim and Violet,” and footage of a performance of “Let It Be Known,” recorded in the Melrose Center. Enjoy the video, read the transcript, or peruse excerpts and images below!

1990

In the summer of 1990, Jim’s future spouse, a library employee herself, encouraged him to apply for a clerk position at the newest library in the Orange County Library System — the Southwest Library Branch on Della Drive. Jim was hired by Branch Manager Mary Jo Biehl as a branch clerk. In 1991, Jim became a branch clerk sub in the Division of Branches under John Martin – filling in where needed at any of the nine branches in the system.

In 1993, Jim was promoted to Assistant Manager of the Circulation Department where he worked until 2000 under Craig Wilkins, then Wendy Bost and finally Debbie Tour.

Special Services Department

In 2000, Jim became the department head of Special Services which included home delivery and the mail room at the Orlando Public Library. This was a challenging time for home delivery as there were around 700 requests for items received daily through the website and each request had to be manually entered into the system. Home delivery was located in two small rooms in the basement of the 1966 library.

By the end of Jim’s tenure in Special Services, the department had relocated to the spacious former Children’s library in the basement of the 1986 library, and his team was processing between 70,000 to 75,000 requests a month! (Read Jim’s history of home delivery at OCLS.)

Circulation Department

Jim later had the opportunity to become the head of the Circulation Department at the Orlando Public Library. He oversaw Circulation, the Mail Room and eventually the library’s telephone reference service called “Questline.”

THE DOROTHY LUMLEY MELROSE CENTER
FOR TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION and CREATIVITY

Finally, Jim was chosen to be the first department head of the Melrose Center, formerly part of the Technology and Education Center. This was a wonderful opportunity for Jim as a musician and song writer. “Being able to be part of the Melrose Center emerging and becoming really vital has probably been the most rewarding part of my career here at OCLS.”

In Retrospect

PROUDEST MOMENT

There have been so many things that the Melrose Center has done that I’m really proud of, but I’m proud through the work of the staff.

If I had to pinpoint one moment, it would probably be when we introduced the Melrose Pop Festival for the library’s 100th anniversary in 2023. We had 400 people here and bands that I have a connection with. And being able to perform with my band on stage and see my staff make all that happen was one of the proudest moments in my career.

ROLE MODELS

Role model is a weird word, but I’ve been really lucky to work with a lot of people who have influenced me. It’s not just my supervisors but my staff and managers that have worked with me that I have learned from. I’ve had a lot of time working with Stephanie Lum over the years in different departments and she is really great at organizing and helping me do that type of stuff.

John Martin was pretty important to me early on. He taught me how to be a professional. He’s also the person who told me long ago that if you have the opportunity to retire early and are able to – do it!

Carla Fountain was pretty important to me helping me utilize empathy and understand how to work with different types of people in a compassionate way.

Debbie Moss taught me a lot. I reported directly to Debbie for 20 years and that’s a long time to have one manager. I’m really lucky to have had just one manager; she taught me a lot.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE AT OCLS SINCE 1990?

I became a manager at the end of library director Glenn Miller’s tenure. Glenn did a number of amazing things here – home delivery and helping design this entire expansion but there wasn’t any internet! — no library website, no online catalog. We still had to add new Title, Author and Subject cards to the card catalog when new books were added to the collection.

WHAT HAS REMAINED THE SAME?

I think the thing that has remained the same since I started in 1990 is the pride that the staff feel working at the library. I can remember the crew that I worked with at the Southwest branch – Darlene, Linda, Mary Joe Biehl, Dean Padget. Early on I could tell how much it meant to people to work at the library because, essentially, you’re just doing good. You’re not selling anything; you’re trying to help people find resources – that’s the common thread.

Today, I work with people who are not your traditional library workers, but they are just as passionate as the people I worked with at Southwest in terms of wanting to show people resources and help them learn.

So, that’s the thing that stays the same — the people get into this business because that’s what they want to do.

Farewell

On June 8, 2026, OCLS staff were greeted with an email from Jim Myers that quickly garnered over 130 heart emojis. A portion of his message is shared below, as there is no better way to end this post.

After 36 years, I’m retiring from OCLS this Thursday, June 11th.  I am brimming with gratitude.  I’m thankful for Mary Jo Biehl (RIP) for taking a chance on hiring me when I was still a shaggy haired college student in a poorly ironed shirt.  I’m thankful for John Martin, Debbie Moss, Carla Fountain, Bob Tessier and Craig Wilkins for long ago showing me at various turns how to be a professional.  I’m thankful for the four Directors I have worked under during my career for their organizational stewardship, and for the managers to whom I’ve reported in my time for their thoughtful guidance. 

I tried to approximate the number of staff members for whom I’ve had the privilege of serving as manager since 1994.  I think it’s close to 150. I am sincerely grateful for everyone I have worked with in Circulation, Special Services/Delivery, Questline and the Melrose Center.  I have been incredibly lucky through it all to work with so many dedicated and talented people. 

I know it seems cliché, but regardless of how excellent this library system is (and it is truly excellent), the staff has always been the most important reason why.  The great philosopher Joe Strummer once said, “Without people, you’re nothing.”  He was on to something.

Jim