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Heritage Award winner believes in community

Mary Pat Essman has been on more than 16 boards

Mary Pat Essman is this year's Chamber of Commerce Heritage Award winner. Essman has been the director of the Lane Libraries since 1983 and also serves on a number of boards throughout Hamilton city and Butler County.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch Mary Pat Essman is this year's Chamber of Commerce Heritage Award winner. Essman has been the director of the Lane Libraries since 1983 and also serves on a number of boards throughout Hamilton city and Butler County.

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By Amanda Seitz, Staff Writer 12:44 AM Sunday, June 27, 2010

HAMILTON — If Mary Pat Essman’s life were a book, it would be a story of dedication to her city.

The chapters would be a myriad: her colleagues and fellow Hamilton residents say she has been involved with practically every organization around the city.

“I’m trying to think of a board that she hasn’t been on but I can’t think of any,” said Kenny Craig, president of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

That, Craig said, is why she is this year’s Hamilton Heritage Award for Outstanding Community Involvement recipient.

Essman, who has worked as the director of Lane Public Library since 1983, has been involved with more than 16 Butler County and Hamilton community boards.

“People are just fabulous here,” she said of why she’s so dedicated to the community. “It’s the people in the community itself.”

As director, Essman has overseen numerous technological advances at the library and opened the library to members of the community, according to Carrie Mancuso, library public relations director.

“Really, the thing that stands out most to me is that she is very innovative for her goals in the library system and how they serve the community,” Mancuso said.

During the years it has been a challenge for libraries to maintain their roles as community centers, Mancuso said. “That makes it important that she has that role in our community. She tries to pay attention to what we can offer.”

The effect of Essman’s work is felt far outside the bookcases that line the library’s walls, Craig said

“It’s really about going beyond her call of her normal job,” Craig said. “(She’s) a very good leader, very good on follow-through and doing what she says she’s going to do, and very responsible.”

Essman said she was very humbled by the award.

“I was really surprised,” Essman said. “I feel so honored because there are so many people in this community who do an awful lot.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2192 or aseitz@coxohio.com.

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