staff photo by rowena plett
Marion City Library manager Janet Marler has almost 80 books in her collection of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” books. Many are on display at the library every Christmas.
Librarian has her
own book collections
Staff writer
As if she doesn’t get enough of books as Marion’s head librarian, Janet Marler has several private collections.
Her collections focus on children’s books because of their colorful and interesting illustrations.
She has been collecting “Twas the Night before Christmas” books for at least 10 years. She receives some as gifts and finds many by browsing thrift stores and checking out bookstore sales.
“I have bought very few books at full price,” she said. “Every year, I spot another version.”
She has collected almost 80 books so far. She keeps them in a bookcase at home but brings them out every year at Christmas for the public to view at the library.
Marler also has more than a dozen “Wizard of Oz” books and at least 20 “Peter Rabbit” books.
She likes all of them and has no favorites, but Jan Brett is her favorite illustrator.
Asked whether her collections were complete, she said, “Heavens, no!”
Marler started working in the library 44 years ago. She has been head librarian for 28 years.