Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 83 INTERVIEW WITH JACK ALBRECHT COUNTY LIBRARY DIRECTOR need to keep pace with the changing needs of the communities they serve. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGED ABOUT MONTANA'S RURAL LIBRARIES BY 2051? The Montana Shared Catalog, which is a consortium of 177 libraries (public, school, academic, medical, and special libraries) sharing their resources. Montana libraries are already doing an incredible job of collaborating to serve our growing population's needs. The need to share resources, to innovate, and to be attuned to our communities' needs will only increase as time goes by. DO YOU THINK THE THOMPSON-HICKMAN LIBRARY MAY SERVICE A MUCH LARGER POPULA- TION BY 2051? Since the Thompson-Hickman Library serves all of Madison County, the population of the entire county inevitably will change as years progress to 2051. Although it's difficult to project how much the population will grow, it is fairly safe to assume that it will go beyond the approximately 9,000 people currently residing here. All the libraries within the county will need to continue to partner in order to accommodate the increased population. AS VIRGINIA CITY'S LEGENDARY HISTORY RECEDES FURTHER INTO THE PAST, HOW WILL RURAL LIBRARIES LIKE THE THOMPSON-HICKMAN LIBRARY HELP TO PRESERVE THAT ERA FOR POSTERITY? The Thompson-Hickman Library building houses the Dick Pace Archives as well as the Thompson-Hickman Museum. The Pace Archives moved into its new, cli- mate-controlled space in 2015. The museum, found on the lower level of the original library building, has been in operation since the building was open to the public in 1922. Both of these institutions are dedicated to preserv- ing history for posterity. Both institutions can only grow in importance and value with the passage of time. Raised in a military family, his father's army career took the family to assignments throughout the U.S. and abroad. He graduated from Bitburg American High School in Germany. During his early years, he attended college and, on occasion, worked as a singer and actor in Colorado. He got his BA in Humanities from San Diego State University in California and his master's degree in Library Science from the Uni- versity of Arizona, Tucson. He managed branches with San Diego Public Library for fifteen years, then decided to return to the Rockies in 2010 by moving to his vacation home in Whitefish. In Whitefish, Jack worked for two years for Montana Coffee Traders, where he learned to appreciate the value of a great cup o' joe! He fell in love with Virginia City when he was introduced to it by friends over nine years ago. At the Thompson-Hickman Library, Jack and the rest of the library staff continue the tradition of hospitality, offering coffee, cookies, and conversation in a relaxed and friendly setting, making the Thompson-Hickman Library truly "a great place to hang!" Free Robe enter to win Distinctly Montana .com/robes

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