Bornhoft is new library director, describes new vision

    Heginbotham Library’s new director has called many corners of the country home since graduating from Holyoke High School in 1981.
    Over the span of about 15 years, Kathy (Oliver) Bornhoft moved from the wind-whipped hills of Adak, Alaska — America’s westernmost city — to the tropics of Hawaii — the country’s southernmost state — before finally settling in the Front Range community of Wellington in 2000.
    Now, she’s returning to her childhood home with a vision of expanding the resources available from one of Holyoke’s landmark institutions.
    “We want to let the community know that we have more than just programs,” she said. “It’s a good place to get information for whatever you need.”
    Bornhoft hopes to grow the library’s digital offerings with audiobooks and more computers, in addition to running more storytimes for young children, opening the building up for tours and hosting other special events.
    As a child, Bornhoft remembers visiting the library with her mother, Donna Oliver, who was an avid reader. Bornhoft spent long periods of time in the nonfiction section, reading about Native American history, and even wrote murder mysteries set in the library with her friends.
    She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and secondary education and later followed her husband, Tim, to Alaska and Hawaii, where he was contracted as a painter for the military.
    The Bornhofts eventually moved back to Colorado to raise their two children and be closer to their parents. Their eldest son, Drew, 22, now works as a firefighter in the Ault-Pierce Fire Department, while their youngest, Tate, 19, attends Front Range Community College.
    Most recently, Bornhoft worked as director of Wellington Public Library — a position that she held for five years, after serving as assistant director for four years.
    When she heard the position of director had opened up at her childhood library, she leapt at the opportunity to return to Holyoke.
    “I just thought that this job was never going to become available again in my lifetime, so if I wanted it, I’d better apply.”
    For a city of Holyoke’s size, Bornhoft said she has been pleasantly surprised with the range of opportunities for recreation and new high-end entertainment facilities like the Phillips County Event Center, Holyoke JR/SR High School auditorium and the refurbished Peerless Theatre.
    In her free time, Bornhoft likes to paint, exercise and read. She said her favorite fiction book is “Vintage,” by Susan Gloss, and her favorite work of nonfiction is “Killers of the Flower Moon,” by David Grann. She is also looking for volunteer opportunities with the Peerless Theatre and Phillips County Players.
    “It’s really a neat community to get involved in, and there is a lot to get involved in,” she said.