BY JIMMY SHOCKLEY, Eastern Shore Post —
It is hard to imagine Northampton High School’s library without Kay Ballard.
Ballard has worked as the library clerk for Northampton High School since 1981, long before the building also housed the county middle school.
She recently announced her retirement after 44 years at the position. Her career in the library has been one for the books.
“It’s time to go,” she said. “My body is telling me it’s time to do something different.”
Ballard, 66, is the daughter of the late Edward and Juanita Ballard.
She grew up in Northampton County and is a graduate of Northampton High School.
She worked as the part-time secretary in the library when the librarian at the time, Linda Floyd, offered her the position of library clerk.
She concludes her tenure with a remarkable claim to fame — she spent the entirety of her educational career at the high school where she graduated.
In her time as library clerk she has seen the rise of technology within the library — she recalled the first computer was installed in the library around 1989.
While many resist the rise and development of technology, Ballard said it has been a welcome change.
Ballard said there were many parts of the job she enjoyed — like having off from work during the summer and being around books all day.
What she has enjoyed the most, however, were the people she interacted with every day for the last 44 years — faculty, staff, and students alike.
In her retirement, she said she’s likely going to do some babysitting for family members.
She also said she is looking forward to the freedom of not being confined to a schedule.
Ballard estimates that more than 4,000 students have graduated from Northampton High School in her time there.
Many will miss her presence in the library, not only because she is the person keeping track of 30,000 books.
They will also miss her steady presence and helpful demeanor. Ballard is known for her good-humored, unflappable nature.
Ballard has been a constant for generations of Northampton High School graduates. She likened her retirement to the process of receiving a diploma and moving on.
“I’m finally getting to graduate,” said Ballard.
Northampton County Public Schools’ retirees this year include Kay Ballard, L’Tanya Byrd, Earline Davis, Linda Hyslop, Marc Lee, Angela Smith, and Lucille Weeks.
