COMPLIMENTS TO CONSIDINE

Joe Considine has been a librarian at New England College (NEC) for nearly 30 years, but has now decided to call it quits. There have been five U.S. presidents come and go while he has been at NEC, just to give you an idea of how long his stay has been.

Joe insists that it is not due to his age that he wants to retire, he simply explained, "I just can't wait to be able to wake up every morning and know that I don't have a schedule to attend to." Joe plans on moving to the seacoast in May, where he plans to enjoy one of his favorite hobbies, bike riding. He again reflected on his young mentality, when he said "I'll ride with anybody, I don't care who it is."

Joe has certainly seen and done a great deal in his day. Joe served for the Army in Germany, owned a bar in Lowell, MA, and even coached football at Keith Academy. A lot has changed Joe further explained, "not only in the college, but in the world as a whole. When I first started there weren't any computers, that has certainly made a huge difference in the way students are being educated compared to when I first started." Joe first started his librarian work at UNH, but said that NEC was definitely better due to the fact that there was, "more interaction with the students, and a more intimate relationship with his peers."

He finished with this, "I'll always remember NEC because of my ability to have a close interaction with the students. There is not a better feeling in the world than when a student is leaving and just simply says thank you for your help."

His help has indeed been much appreciated for these past 30 years, so next time you are in the library and see Joe, give him one last thank you for his help. He'll certainly remember when he's enjoying the retired life, riding his bike down the seacoast.

-Reprinted from The New Englander
October 3, 2003