RIPON – Dorothy “Dot” Veltkamp always has a couple of books on her night stand – a woman with a passion for reading since her childhood – has completed more than 25 years as a librarian mostly in Ripon.
“If I don’t have a book on my nightstand, I’m lost,” she said. “There are usually four or five waiting to be read.”
Born in Lynden, Wash. she moved with her family to her family’s new rural dairy on Austin Road midway between Highway 99 and West Ripon Road. Her dad was a Holstein breeder with Dot and her siblings doing much of the farm work.
Living in the country back then kept the Veltkamp kids away from the larger centers and without a TV her four sisters and two brothers were limited to enjoying their family while reading, competing in board games, milking cows and driving tractor.
“All of us worked in the dairy and in the fields, and milking cows was not my favorite chore,” she quipped.
“I have been working in the county library system at 10 different branches wherever they wanted me. In the last several years I have been committed to Ripon,” she said. “I love my customers. I love my people here in the library.”
Inspirational and true life volumes are her favorites, adding that she likes the works of John Grisham. She noted the library has a lot of requests when one of his books is fresh off the press. Dot added that Richard Paul Evans’ series called, “The Walk” has had quite a following as well.
She remembered that her favorite in the first grade was the “Dick and Jane” series of books were an early favorite. There are still a few of the Dick and Jane originals in her collection. The “Little Engine that Could” children’s storybook brings fond memories from her childhood years.
Dot noted that her customers at the library seem so overwhelmed and appreciative when she will come away from her desk to help them. “I’m so thankful to have this job where I average 20 hours a week – working six days this week this week – it’s usually five.”
A special person to Riponites, she boasts of her grandchildren aged 6 to 20 years old. “I work well with high schoolers and middle schoolers,” she said, serving alongside two full time staff members, including head librarian Melinda Koop. Dot says her work schedule is set up two weeks in advance.
Ripon Library is located at 333 West Main Street. The next weekly preschool story time is set for Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 10:30 a.m. Ripon author Paula DeBoard will be chairing a question and answer session on Wednesday, January 21, in the library at 5:30 p.m.
In addition to the Children’s Story Time, the library hosts an “All about Baby” session weekly along with monthly programs including their Family Film Matinee, Teen Saturday movie, Evening Film for adults and book discussion groups for adults.
The Ripon Memorial Library also offers computer workstations for general and internet use, plus a reference collection and a circulating collection of library materials. There are also two study rooms available with seating for four to eight people reserved by signing up at the reference desk.
