by Lauren Krupar

Hudson Hub-Times
Associate Editor

Cuyahoga Falls -- Mary Lou Gault's love of the library began when she was a child who spent her free time going to the library to check out fairy tales.

"They scared me," she said, "but they were so imaginative. I loved them."

She carried that passion of learning with her through her studies to be a teacher at the University of Akron, into the classroom and onto the gym floor, and shared it with others. She has been sharing her passion for libraries as a board member for the Cuyahoga Falls Library for the last 25 years.

"I feel very blessed," Gault said. "I love libraries, and I have all my life."

Gault, who was appointed by then-Mayor Robert J. Quirk, resigned her post as a life member Dec. 31. Silver Lake solicitor Robert Heydorn, a local attorney, was named to serve in her place.

Gault was one of five life members of the library's board of trustees. The other six members are appointed by the mayor or by the school board.

"I looked at that 25 years and I thought that it was time for me to let someone else run things," Gault said, adding she plans to continue her involvement with the Friends of the Library's semiannual book sale. "I have to remind myself that I'm not on the board anymore, but I still just want to visit."

In those 25 years, she served as board president and secretary, helping organize book drives and update library holdings. She helped enlarge the large print collection, install a drop box and more.

"I consider her [Gault] a very valuable member," said library board treasurer Sue Gatton. "She did her homework [and] sometimes asked the tough questions.

"Mary Lou was always interested in learning all that she could about libraries," Gatton added. "She was very good about attending meetings that the Ohio Library Council would sponsor."

She also, Library Director Kevin Rosswurm said, was "instrumental" in bringing a sculpture of two children reading together to the building. The statue, named "Bill and Maggie," stands outside the library's main entranceway and was created by Kent artist George Danhires.

Gault, who also was the artwork chair at the library, had seen a similar statue at a library she visited and wanted something at Cuyahoga Falls.

"It was up to me to go and find an artist," Gault said. "For the longest time, the statue was on the lower level so a lot of adults never saw it. They didn't even know it existed so when it did come out [in front of the entranceway], all the adults were amazed at it."

She also saw the community successfully pass the library's first levy, a process Gault said was "very challenging."

"What we were really fighting against was the fact that people just didn't have enough money, but the community passed it," Gault said. "What I like most is how the community supports the library. You go down to the children's department and see the parents with their little people and it just makes my heart sing."

Gault, who has lived in Cuyahoga Falls with her husband Don for more than 51 years, plans to visit the library at least every other day to catch up on her reading or attend programs.

"There's so much information in there," she said.

She plans to remain active with the League of Women Voters, the Akron-Summit County Federation of Woman's Clubs, the Lake Erie Basin Committee and at Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"I believe in keeping busy," Gault said. "I believe in socializing with people. There comes a point where the body wears down and you have to pace yourself, but not yet."

Editor's note: Cuyahoga Falls News-Press Editor Phil Keren contributed to this story.

E-mail: lkrupar@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3146