New library director taking over in Bellevue

SANDUSKY — Early next month, the Bellevue Public Library will lose its current director to retirement but will get a new director who is very familiar with the area. Patty Marsh, 62, had served as the Bellevue director for six years after serving in numerous other public library administrative posts. The Amherst resident is stepping down Feb. 9. "I have had the best career. I can't imagine any other career, and I love it," Marsh said. The new library director will be Courtney McGrath, the assistant director of Ida Rupp Public Library in Port Clinton. McGrath, 35, a Clyde resident, has been with Port Clinton's library for 10 years and has served in the No. 2 job since being promoted in 2020. "I'm super, super excited for the opportunity," said McGrath, who starts work in Bellevue on Feb. 4 and will, therefore, be able to work with Marsh for a few days. Before Bellevue brought her in to run the library, Marsh worked in administrative posts at Rocky River Public Library, Lorain County's public library, Akron-Summit County's library and Stark County District Library. She also once ran a small library in Virginia. Marsh said she plans to exercise and cook more after retirement. A dog lover, Marsh added, "I am hoping there is a puppy in the future." McGrath is a former social worker who used to meet with her clients at local libraries. While still in the social work field, she took a part-time library job in Green Springs and realized she wanted to work in libraries for a living. While meeting a client at Ida Rupp, she noticed a job posting and applied successfully for the job. "You never know unless you try. One thing led to another," McGrath said. McGrath said working in a small library in Port Clinton has allowed her to learn about a lot of aspects of public library work. People who work in small libraries have to wear a lot of hats, she noted. McGrath is an avid reader, and one of her jobs is to run a book discussion group at a coffeehouse on Catawba Island. She's going to have to tell them that she's leaving for a new job, McGrath said.