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LEXINGTON, Va., Aug. 19, 2021--鈥淲hat I鈥檝e enjoyed the most is working with the cadets. I want to be open to them, be that friendly face at the reference desk, the circulation desk, and that they can approach me.鈥�

That鈥檚 what Col. Janet Holly says about her position as a research and instruction librarian鈥攁 job she鈥檚 held for an incredible 37 years. Come Sept. 1, though, she鈥檒l transition from employee to retiree, with plans to travel a bit, spend time at her Natural Bridge home, and give back to the community that鈥檚 given her so much.

A native of Freehold, N.J., Holly attended what was then a women鈥檚 college, Georgian Court University, and then faced the question of what to do after graduation. She remembers thinking to herself, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to teach. It sounds like a clich茅, but I love books and I love talking to people and finding information. I think I could be a librarian.鈥�

With that goal in mind, Holly earned a master鈥檚 in library science at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then began her career as a librarian in that city. By 1984, though, she was between jobs and looking for another opportunity when she saw an ad for the job at VMI. Col. James 鈥淛im鈥� Gaines Jr., then library director, not only hired Holly, but he rented an apartment for her on Jefferson Street and even arranged for utility hookups.

鈥淲ho else would do this?鈥� she recalled thinking. Support came from others as well: the late Wylma 鈥淪is鈥� Davis, research librarian, was a valuable guide and mentor during Holly鈥檚 early years on the job, and so was Maj. Gen. John W. Knapp 鈥�54, who was dean of the faculty when Holly first arrived and later served as the Institute鈥檚 12th superintendent.

鈥淗e remembered names,鈥� said Holly of Knapp, amazed by the fact that someone so high in the administration would know her, a newly hired employee.

Holly came in at the rank of captain, and she was still at that rank when she had a funny encounter with Knapp, whom she describes as 鈥渟o gracious.鈥� She was still waiting on her shoulder boards to be delivered, so she borrowed captain鈥檚 shoulder boards from a friend who鈥檇 been in the Navy. When Knapp saw that she was improvising, he offered to give her his Army shoulder boards from when he鈥檇 been a captain.

There were frustrations, of course, as there are in any new job and new community. She described living 50 miles from the nearest mall as 鈥渁 little daunting,鈥� and she missed her friends and family back home in New Jersey. But the kindness of community members and the support she felt at work were more than enough to keep her in Lexington.

鈥淭he Lexington community and the VMI community were family,鈥� she stated. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize that I鈥檇 have that experience here.鈥�

Beginning in the late 1980s, Holly deepened her involvement in the local community by serving on the board of the Rockbridge SPCA, and by 2012, she was president of the board. Now that she鈥檚 retiring, Holly would like to get involved with the area鈥檚 animal rescue groups once again.

On post, she鈥檚 been supported in her professional growth with funds allocated to attend conferences, including one three-week stint at Oxford University in England. She also served on committees of the Virginia Library Association.

Each day, the job has been wide-ranging in scope. When Holly was hired, her background working in an engineering library was meant to complement that of Davis, who specialized in the humanities, but she quickly discovered that at a small school, everyone does a little bit of everything.

鈥淎t the reference desk, you don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 going to be an engineering question or an English/history question,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚t just comes. I鈥檓 really doing a little bit of everything, and I鈥檝e been in nearly every department鈥檚 class over the years.鈥�

Holly can still vividly remember the layout of the library when she was first hired. 鈥淭he circulation desk鈥攂oth walls were lined with the card catalog,鈥� she commented.

By 1990, the small paper cards were going the way of the dinosaurs, and Holly took a leading role in the seismic change to an electronic catalog. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a small staff,鈥� she said. 鈥淓veryone had to help. It was a big deal, getting a library catalog online, getting a circulation system online. I couldn鈥檛 have done it by myself.鈥�

Always, Holly shares the credit for any success the library staff has enjoyed. 鈥淚鈥檝e been very fortunate to work with some very talented people,鈥� she stated. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always been a wonderful work experience for me here.鈥�

Her colleagues likewise say that Holly has made their work experience wonderful. 鈥淛anet is the saint of Preston Library,鈥� said Lt. Col. Elizabeth 鈥淟iz鈥� Kocevar-Weidinger, head of research and instruction at the library. 鈥淪he鈥檚 the ultimate consensus builder鈥攖he best I鈥檝e ever met鈥攁lways a smile, always pleasant, always concerned.鈥�

Assuaging the fears of cadets, particularly rats overwhelmed by VMI鈥檚 myriad demands, is a particular skill of Holly鈥檚.

鈥淭he rats can get so anxious,鈥� she commented. 鈥淭his is their safe place. From day one, we advertise that 鈥� The people I work with had always taught me that the library was a place where teachers and students and the community could come and get some answers and be welcomed.鈥� 

Kocevar-Weidinger also praised Holly鈥檚 commitment to learning new things as a way of life, even near the end of her career. When the COVID-19 pandemic first swept the globe in the spring of 2020, and higher education institutions were forced to adapt to distance learning, Holly made the switch without missing a beat.

鈥淲e called her 鈥榋oomie,鈥欌�� Kocevar-Weidinger related, stressing Holly鈥檚 quick mastery of both Zoom and Microsoft Teams. 鈥淪he鈥檚 always working for the benefit of our cadets.鈥�

What鈥檚 more, Holly鈥檚 dedication has continued unabated even as the days tick down to her retirement. 鈥淪he鈥檚 still in uniform. She鈥檚 still here every day,鈥� noted Kocevar-Weidinger.

鈥淭here just couldn鈥檛 be anybody better than Janet.鈥�

Mary Price
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE