Photo Courtesy of South Pasadena Public Library | The South Pasadenan | Public Services Manager Maida Wong sits behind the reference desk at South Pasadena Library. Wong is retiring after working at the library over the past 37 years.
We 🖤 Our Readership – Big News Coming Soon, Stay Tuend!
In a way, South Pasadena Public Library Director Cathy Billings may have said it best, accurately assessing one of Maida Wong’s greatest strengths over her 37-year career at the local institution known for its prestigious Carnegie acclaim.
“She connected kids to books,” said Billings, and while at it instilled the love of reading for thousands of young people.
And parents throughout the city have Wong to thank for introducing their sons and daughters to hundreds of the books she read to them over that span.
Photo Provided by South Pasadena Public Library | The South Pasadenan | Library staff from left Chris Jones Barbara Posner Sandi Jensen and Maida Wong who retired working for the library after 37 years
“Her passion for her work and dedication to the city have been unwavering,” Billings wrote in a message to the South Pasadena City Council, informing the five-member panel that Wong was stepping down from her long-standing duties at the local library, which opened in 1908 with funds donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, thus making it among the elite in the country.
Next chapter for Wong – retirement.
Photo Provided by South Pasadena Public Library | The South Pasadenan | Public Services Manager Maida Wong provides assistance at South Pasadena Library Wong is retiring after working at the library over the past 37 years
“When she was hired in 1988, Maida was following in a long line of highly regarded children’s librarians at the library – she had big shoes to fill, and she quickly filled them!” noted Billings in her statement to the council.
While she was promoted to public services manager in 2017, a piece of her heart has always been with the kids and families in the (library’s) children’s room.”
Wong’s esteemed career, pointed out Billings, included serving on selection committees for both the Caldecott Medal and the Newbery Award – a pair of highly distinguished children’s literature honors in the United States. Along the way, she also devoted considerable time to mentoring and motivating interns, volunteers and librarians.
Prior to working at the South Pasadena Library, Wong served as a Head Start special education resource person for about two years after her undergraduate studies. Head Start, according to Wikipedia, is a program of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, providing early childhood education, nutrition, health and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.
Photo Provided by South Pasadena Public Library | The South Pasadenan | South Pasadena Library Public Service Manager Maida Wong reads to a group of students from Marengo Elemenary School
It provided some valuable experience, remembers Wong, as she learned the art of how accomplished preschool teachers shared books with children. “That led to my interest in children’s books and a children’s literature class at the local college, which led to an internship at the local public library,” she recalls.
It was that moment in time that inspired Wong to further her education at library school. Following her graduate work, she found a position at Loyola High School in downtown Los Angeles for a few years, “but I missed the younger kids” she explained, “so I returned to the public library setting and worked stints with Glendale Public Library and then the County of Los Angeles Public Library until I, fortunately, got the senior librarian position at the South Pasadena Public Library.”
Photo Provided by South Pasadena Public Library | The South Pasadenan | Workers gathered for a group photo with Public Services Manager Maida Wong on her last day at South Pasadena Library Wong is retiring after working at the library over the past 37 years
That’s where she showcased her talents at the highest level, reading dozens of children’s books to visiting classrooms, making the section in the library for kids a special, unique place, all her own. During the summer months, she would invite a mix of authors, musicians, magicians and others to entertain youngsters, moms and dads as part of a “Wonderful Wednesday” series in the adjacent community room. And, indeed they were.
While much of her time at the library was spent in Children’s Services, along with serving as interim city librarian on a couple of occasions, Wong moved into the public services manager post eight years ago, candidly saying it wasn’t her top choice as a job.
“My favorite position at the library was working as the children’s librarian,” insisted Wong. “It’s a positive loop. When I got to share great stories with kids and they got excited about them, and even when they decided that it wasn’t the right book yet, the feedback was immediate. Parents were so supportive and appreciative too. And every day was different. There were so many facets, from recommending books and answering questions to selecting materials and coordinating and presenting programs. Thinking about and figuring out different ways to engage children with reading and stories was such a fun challenge.”
While she says her years as public services manager “were just a different kind of challenge, but I suppose I did enjoy the daily direct contact with kids in my children’s position slightly more.”
Photo Provided by South Pasadena Public Library | The South Pasadenan | Maida Wong back row second from right joined South Pasadena Public Library staff in dressing up in Wheres Waldo Costumes The childrens puzzle books were created by English illustrator Martin Hanford
Connecting with the public was a way of life and customary practice for Wong, who seemed to always greet others with an infectious smile, beaming as she went out of her way to lend a hand.
One in particular was a young woman, back in town a few weeks ago to visit her mother, dropping by the library to use one of the power banks – a portable battery used to charge devices, like mobile phones.
“She said that when she was young, she used the library frequently,” Wong said. “Since her parents were first generation, they didn’t speak English. She remembered that I suggested many different books to her, which were a lifeline to learning American language and culture.
Eventually, noted Wong, the woman ended up getting a Ph.D. in English Literature and now teaches educators how to introduce literature to children. “It was such an honor that she shared her story and to know that what we put out into the world can continue to ripple out in unexpected ways,” she said.
Now that Wong has left the library scene, she plans to take what she calls “a gap year to figure out what I really want to do and what activities I want to delve into. In the meantime, I’m planning a couple of family trips to Spain and Japan and I’ll be walking our dog, reading, binge-watching some shows, catching up with friends, and trying to clear out some closets and cabinets.”
Photo Provided by South Pasadena Public Library | The South Pasdaenan | Maida Wong and Paul Kikuchi who works at Trader Joes on Mission Street in the city have been married for 38 years Wong is retiring after working at the library over the past 37 years
Her proud husband of 38 years, Paul Kikuchi, continues to work at Trader Joe’s, one of two in town, at the Mission Street location in the city.
In a quick response when asked what she will miss most about working at the South Pasadena Public Library, Wong insisted: “Definitely my co-workers, whom I spent most of my waking hours and a few of them with whom we shared most of our adult life milestones.”
And why wouldn’t she after building trusted relationships and meaningful connections with many of them over the years.
“I’ll also miss the supportive patrons,” said Wong, whose last day was August 1. “I’m looking forward to having time to do things that I put off when I didn’t have time because of work. It still feels a bit like an extended vacation, but I can get used to this. It’s really been my privilege to work with the South Pasadena community. We have so many supporters who help out behind the scenes, from friends, volunteers to community organizations, businesses and private citizens who have contributed to our programs. And the library staff is fantastic! We have a dedicated team in place now and knowing that makes it a little easier to leave.”
In her communication to the council, Billings conveyed that “Maida has made a difference in the lives of countless young people, and those young people – now parents – come in to introduce their own kids to the library and share their fond memories from when ‘Ms. Wong’ was their librarian.”
And with her departure, the city’s librarian said it’s difficult to “imagine the library without Maida’s steady presence, optimism, principles, sense of humor and vast knowledge! She will be missed by staff and library users alike, but after 37 years, she has earned her retirement, and we wish her happy travels, relaxation, and joy in her next chapter!”