Library News 5 Honoring a Lifetime of Service Library Director Alan Hall Delegate, Ohio White House Conference on Libraries, 1978 OLA Southeast Chapter Coordinator, 1987-1988 Member, Steubenville Lions Club, 1983-1992, President, 1986 Member, Legislation Committee, Ohio Library Association, 1984-1990 Member, American Library Association, 1988-2025 Member and Officer, Southeast Ohio Library Organization, 1983-2006 Board Member, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, 1984-1990 Elder, Presbyterian Church USA Librarian of the Year by Ohio Library Association, 1989 President, Ohio Library Association, 1992-1994 Alan Hall devoted 35 years of his life as director of PLSJ, leading with vision, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to the library profession. We are forever grateful for his leadership that shaped the library’s shelves and the communities that grew around them. Alan was born and raised in Marietta, Ohio and began working in libraries when he was in high school. From there he went on to earn a degree from WVU in 1976 then his Masters in Library Science from Case Western Reserve University in 1977. He was director of Delphos Public Library, 1977-1983. In 1983 Alan became director of PLSJ, retired in 2018 and continued to volunteer as a cataloger for the library system until his passing in September 2025. Over the years, he guided the library through an era of remarkable change—overseeing the introduction of automation. Alan fully automated the library system beginning in 1983 and served on committees related to the automation of the SEO Library Center. In 1988, PLSJ became one of the first four libraries to join the automation network that today includes 104 library systems. Alan was also proud of expanding PLSJ's local history and genealogy collection. When he arrived in 1983, the local collection consisted of approximately 100 items. He felt that since Steubenville is an early settlement area for Ohio, the collection should have matched as such. In 1987 he moved the local history collection from the Main Library to the Schiappa Branch and appointed a staff member to oversee and grow it. Today, the Ohio Room contains more than 7,000 items and holds ownership of the Digital Shoebox Project. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Alan was known for his love of family, deep faith, interest in history and trains, and his quick wit. His presence will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire all who visit the library. Thank you, Alan, for a lifetime of service, leadership, and love for this community. Your story will forever be part of ours. Representative, American Library Association Legislative Day, Washington, D.C. 1991-1998 Ohio State University, Extension Service, Advisory Committee, 1996 Member, Steubenville Rotary Club, President 2017-2018 Board Member, Community Foundation of Jefferson County, 1996-2001 Member, Government Relations Committee, Ohio Library Council, 1998-2009 Member, Sons of the American Revolution Life Member, Jefferson County Historical Society Board Member, Secretary, Historic Fort Steuben, 2008-2015 The professional accomplishments of Alan Hall Clerk of Session, Two Ridges Presbyterian Church Instructor, Academy for Lifelong Learning 73rd edition of The Who's Who in America, named as an Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Award Winner Jefferson County Port Authority Board Member State Library Board Member, 20192022, President, 2022 Co-editor "Steubenville Bicentennial Book, 1797-1997" Co-author "Steubenville: Images of America." 2005 More than 25 library articles in professional publications and local history items Weekly columns in the Herald-Star
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