Chehalis Library Manager Reflects on Tenure as Retirement Looms

After helping bring the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library to fruition, Corinne Aiken is preparing to step away from a profession she has grown to love.

Aiken, who moved to the Twin Cities in 1996 and attended library school, was hired by Timberland Regional Library in 2001 and ascended to the role of manager of the Chehalis library in 2003, a position she has held for nearly 12 years. She’ll retire from the role at the end of May after more than a decade of civic involvement.

During the first part of Aiken’s time as director, the need for more floor space in the old building built nearly a century ago had become more apparent. She and Brian Zylstra, of the Friends of the Chehalis Library, brought forth a plan to the Chehalis City Council to renovate and improve the building, but that proved to not be the best option.

“We found there was a law that said that if you invest money in it, you have to bring it all up to code,” Aiken said. “We would have needed to put a lift in and that would have cost a lot.”

It would have cost so much, in fact, that a study was commissioned to see what a new library would cost. 

Chehalis native Orin Smith, who served as president and CEO of Starbucks from 2000 to 2005, and other community members began to pour money and their efforts into the movement.

“We actually found the cost for a new building to be more feasible,” Aiken said.

Aiken said part of the new library’s focus would be to honor the history and design elements of Carnegie libraries, which were all built throughout the country with common elements such as large windows, dark wood and spacious areas. 

With that in mind, the library was built and christened the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library in 2008.

Since that time, Aiken has seen the library evolve from a place to study, check out books or perform research to a de facto community center. 

Classes, speakers, readings and even a LEGO program for children all call the library home as part of a mission to enhance the quality of life of local residents.

“We need that foundation for children and our community to be built,” Aiken said. “Churches and schools are becoming less of those community centers, and the libraries are really starting to become that.”

Marilynn Chintella, president of the Friends of the Chehalis Library, said Aiken’s influence can be seen in the way the library opens its doors to the community. 

Chintella serves as the leader of a group that functions as an auxiliary, a volunteer engine of sorts that helps power many of the library’s programs.

“She’s so attentive to the patrons and her staff, and she recognizes how important the library is to the community,” Chintella said. “She goes above and beyond in nurturing that relationship, and she’s very protective of the quality of programs offered at the library.”

Though her time at the library nears its end, Aiken’s volunteerism through both the Chehalis Community Renaissance Team and the Discover! Children’s Museum board will continue.  

In fact, the mission to build the museum in Chehalis is still very much alive, with Aiken serving as the group’s president.

“We’re doing what I call ‘wrangling’ our capital plan, basically finding out where we’re going to go for money,” Aiken said. “The pilot project was so spectacular, and we’re confident that a full-time museum will be a benefit.”

But aside from the volunteerism, Aiken said she’s looking forward to more downtime. She will miss the people she has had a chance to meet and become friends with through her time at the library, but she’s looking forward to one thing many might not know she didn’t get much of a chance to do.

“I’ll have time now to actually read,” Aiken said, laughing. “I’ve been able to see all the books that go through the hands here, but now I’ll have time to read them.”