WILTON – Becoming the Director of the Wilton Public/Gregg Free Library will be something different, new Interim Director Jane Nikander said, but one she is looking forward to learning. “After 18 years in children’s services, it is a big change for me, (The job of) managing this beautiful historic building is huge.”

She is filling the place left by Director Pat Fickett, also not an easy job.

“Library management is different,” she said. “Budgeting is different, but I have a wonderful Board of Trustees.” Sometime between now and the end of the year, “we’ll determine if we’re a good match – I’m what they’re looking for, what I was looking for. I’m hoping, once I’m settled in, I find my own place, my area in the community that isn’t being served, and maybe I can serve them more.”

Nikander lives in Brookline. She earned her undergraduate degree at Fitchburg State College and her master’s at Plymouth State. She and her husband Wayne have two adult children, “but no grandchildren yet.”

She was most recently a media specialist, “what they used to call a librarian,” at Hills-Garrison School in Hudson. “I was at the Brookline Public Library for seven years, and then went back to being a school librarian. She taught at Highbridge School in New Ipswich for a while.

“Wilton is a very active town. We always came to the Town Hall Theater. I’ve lived in small New Hampshire towns for 32 years, and I know how they operate. Wilton has always had a Main Street where you felt like you’re stepping back in time. It’s a nice place to work.”

“I grew up with the Leominster, Mass., library,” she said. “It was always a place where I felt calm and welcome. Libraries don’t have to be silent, it’s an active place. Making the shift from children to mostly adults – it doesn’t matter the age – the library is the heart of the community, where people go to ask questions, attend a program, talk to people. If you want to know about a town, go to the library.”

The biggest challenge facing librarians right now is the current political climate of censorship, banning books people don’t agree with. “Librarians don’t believe n censorship. There have always been books that were objected to by some people. That happens, it is what is going on in our society. We have to look at where you draw the line as to what you think of as offensive, think of (writing) as art.”

She added, “It is a very touchy subject. Some very treasured literature is being questioned. For me, what I told the kids, is, when you read about other people, other times, their experiences are different, and we learn about their experiences.”

In reading about our own history, “You have to look at things from their point of view We need to learn from their stories. Times and values have changed, we see things differently, realize wrongs were committed, “but we need to know about them. We struggle with things, with the classic books.”

But the Wilton library, in spite of its classic beauty, and long history, is in the 21st century. There are computers in the library, Chrome books are available to check out.

“There is WiFi outside,” she said, “and it’s being extended to the parking lot by the police station across the river. The future is now. “She added, “I’m just happy to be here. I hope I can make a difference like Pat did.”

She had nothing but praise for her staff. “They were instrumental in keeping the library operating during the weeks without a director in place. They are kind, professional people who help me every day. To me, that shows how much they love our library and want our patrons to receive exceptional service.

The library is located at 7 Forest Road, but handicapped access is from the rear of the building on Gregg Street. Hours are Tuesday – Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 1:30 – 5 p.m.,’ and Saturday 9:30- a.m. to 1 p.m. Phone: 603-654-2581.