John C. Hart Memorial Library Head of Children’s Services Marca McClenon will retire Aug. 22 after years of dedicated service to the Town of Yorktown.
The Yorktown Town Board accepted McClenon’s retirement letter on Aug. 5 and expressed its appreciation for her contributions to the library and community at large
McClenon’s connection to the library began in March 2012, when she joined the staff as a part-time children’s librarian. At the time, she lived in Croton and said she was immediately struck by the welcoming staff and the library’s unique setting.
“ I remember how friendly the staff was here, and I was excited to work at this busy and spacious library,” she told Yorktown News. “I appreciated that the library is built around a historic house, and I enjoyed learning about the history of the John C Hart Memorial library.
After working at several other Westchester libraries, McClenon returned to John C. Hart in June 2015 as head of children’s services. She now lives in Putnam Valley.
Library Director Yvonne Cech said McClenon has built meaningful relationships with generations of Yorktown families through her work in the children’s department.
“Marca creates relationships with entire families, beginning when a new parent arrives at the library with a newborn,” Cech said. “She welcomes them into the children's room and would often get to know them as their families grew until the children were old enough to move on to the young adult section of the library.”
Cech said McClenon took the time to learn each child’s interests, including their favorite books, animals and library programs.
“Marca stewarded families through the early literacy phase of their children's reading development with professionalism and sincere caring,” Cech said.
Cech also praised McClenon’s ability to support children and families with different needs and personalities.
“Marca understands and has become adept at dealing with all kinds of personalities and abilities,” Cech said. “She is very inclusive in her approach to offering services in the library. Marca also cares deeply about her entire staff in the children's room. She advocates for them and champions their accomplishments.”
Cech said McClenon’s institutional knowledge and community connections have been valuable assets to the library.
“Marca has a depth of institutional knowledge that is so valuable for our entire operation at the library,” Cech said. “She prioritizes safety, inclusivity and structure -- all important aspects of running a successful children's library.”
McClenon also developed strong relationships with local elementary schools and preschools, helping increase participation in library programs, particularly the annual summer reading program.
During her time at John C. Hart Memorial Library, McClenon created the Summer Reading Kickoff, an annual tradition for Yorktown families held on the last day of school.
The event features outdoor activities, games, crafts, shows and reading incentives designed to encourage students to continue reading throughout the summer. With the help of local school librarians, the program has grown from a small initiative into an event that now draws more than 2,000 attendees.
“Throughout the years since she started organizing this 2-hour event, attendance has grown exponentially,” Cech said.
The event now draws between 1,500 and 2,000 people each year, with families visiting the library to sign up for summer reading programs.
McClenon also drew on her background in environmental education to develop programs centered on the trees and natural resources on the library’s property. In one program, students adopted a tree and kept a journal about it, returning throughout the year to observe its growth.
She also partnered with a local tree company to offer educational programs for families, with the company donating and planting two trees on the library property. McClenon worked with Hilltop Hanover Farm on programs about seeds and native plants, including planting seeds and native plants in the library’s garden.
Another initiative she began was an annual fire safety program, which brings local volunteer firefighters to the library to teach families about fire safety. The firefighters share safety tips and demonstrate their equipment to help children become familiar with what they might encounter during an emergency.
“Through Marca's efforts, many families and children have learned to love to read. You can't have a more impactful career than that,” Cech said.
As she begins retirement, McClenon said she is looking forward to spending more time reading, gardening and with her children, grandchild and “granddogs.”
She said she will miss the people she has worked with and the families she has gotten to know through the library over the years.
“I will miss watching the children grow up and come back for book recommendations, and the friends I have made here from the staff,” McClenon said.
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