After 42 years, Bonnie Case is retiring as Town Librarian of the Highland Park Harvey R. “Bum” Bright Library on December 31, 2016. Mrs. Case’s work has established the Library as a jewel of the community that inspires citizens’ intellects, beckons them to start new information journeys, and instills a life-long love of learning in all ages.
Throughout Mrs. Case’s career she has achieved many accolades and honors. She was named Library Director of the Year by the North East Texas Library System in 2005 and 2009 and was a key contributor to the award-winning book The Homes of the Park Cities, Dallas: Great American Suburbs by Virginia Savage McAlester, Willis Cecil Winters and Prudence Mackintosh.
Mrs. Case displayed unwavering dedication during the fundraising for and execution of the Library’s complete 2008 renovation. Library Journal, a publication of the American Library Association, included the renovated Library and color photographs in its annual architectural issue in December, 2008. Komatsu Architecture, the firm for the renovation, received the Texas Historical Commission’s 2007 Preservation of Excellence Award for restoring the character and original ambiance to the Library. The North East Texas Library System gave former Mayor William D. White, Jr. and former Council Member Gail Madden the “Government Officials of the Year Award” to recognize their outstanding fundraising efforts, including raising $1 million dollars over their $2.4 million goal. It also gave the renovation itself the “Library Project of the Year Award.” No other library has received two of the major awards presented by the System in its history.
For decades, Mrs. Case has led the Library with grace through significant changes in the field of librarianship, including the rise of the Internet, Library automation, digital resources, the Library expanding far beyond brick and mortar buildings, and much, much more. The Town of Highland Park and its citizens truly benefited from the professionalism and vision of Mrs. Case, wish her well in all her future endeavors, and hope to see her often as a Library patron. Thank you, Mrs. Case.