Leslie Franzen (center) enjoys time with family. (Photo courtesy Kelsi Mottet)
There’s a changing of the guard in the world of books.
Longtime Coupeville Library Manager Leslie Franzen is retiring Mar. 1, putting a cap on 43 years of work in the industry.
She’s ridden the ever-changing waves from the days of card catalogs to a world driven by computers, always remaining one of the friendliest, kindest guardians of the written word.
A celebration of her library tenure is set for Thursday, Feb. 23.
The event, which will feature light refreshments and is open to the public, is set for 1-4:00 PM in the library’s meeting room.
The Coupeville Library is located at 788 Alexander Street.
Franzen, a CHS grad, began her library life by working as a page while still in high school.
After a stint off-Island, she and husband Derek returned to Whidbey, where they raised children Kelsi and Garrett, and Leslie was tabbed as Coupeville’s managing librarian in 1988.
Over the years, Franzen (and the library) bounced from location to location in Coupeville, with the snazzy current version being built in 2010.
Two bond measures were passed in 2008 to finance the library improvement, with Franzen among those leading the charge in stumping for the new building.
Coupeville Sports 