Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson, file photo

 Havre-Hill County Library Director Bonnie Williamson poses for a portrait Feb. 16.

Bonnie Williamson, the only director the Havre-Hill County Library has ever had, will retire in July.

"It's a bittersweet time for me," she said. "I'm happy and I'm scared."

In her 30 years, she has overseen the consolidation of the Havre and Hill County libraries, the move into the new library building and the introduction of computerization.

She was hired in 1982 as the library director for the former Hill County Library, located in the Hill County Courthouse. Shortly thereafter, she was named director of the Havre City Library, formerly located in the Old Library Gallery building.

"I used to spend the morning at the county library and the city's in the afternoon," she said.

The two systems consolidated, and the merged library moved into the present building in 1986.

Williamson said she plans to sell her home and "move around a little bit."

"I want to lighten my load and do a little traveling," she said.

"I want to do more than sit in my big, green chair," she said

But she also wants to catch up on her reading.

"When you are shelving books in the library, you always say, 'that book would be interesting,'" she said. Now, she said, she'll have time to read those books.

She said she hopes the library will continue to be a "progressive community center that is welcoming to all."

Williamson said she has enjoyed seeing the variety of people who use the library.

Williamson said libraries have an exciting future.

"If I were 20 years younger, I would love to be planning just what the future is," she said.

Williamson has been involved in a variety of community activities and library activities at the state level.

"I'll be wrapping up all my work on state committees," she said.

Last month, Williamson was named a Humanities Hero by Humanities Montana. She will be honored later in the spring.