If you've attended a program at the Milanof-Schock Library over the past three decades, chances are you've interacted with Jan Betty.

Jan, who goes by "Miss Jan," is the director of children and youth for the library, a position she fills with zeal and boundless energy.

While her enthusiasm for the library may be unending, her time in the role is coming to a close. Miss Jan will officially retire in August.

"This has been my passion," she said of the job she took after volunteering as a storyteller in the early 1990s.

A neighbor, who was the main children's storyteller, asked Jan to fill in as a substitute, and Jan, who had a little boy at home who could accompany her to the library, agreed.

She made such an impression that when the former director of children and youth announced her retirement, she approached Jan about taking over the job.

"I said no," Jan recalled. "I didn't know if I could do it."

With support from her husband, Wayne Betty, Jan changed her mind and became the director of children and youth not long after the library moved from its location on Main Street in Mount Joy to 1184 Anderson Ferry Road in 1999.

Jan grew up outside Millersville. She graduated from Penn Manor High School in 1977 and earned degrees in theater performance and music vocal performance from Penn State University. For years, she participated in community theater productions, including roles at OperaLancaster and the Fulton Theatre.

Her role at the library proved to be a perfect fit for her outgoing personality. Over the years, she has drawn shy kids out of their shells, encouraged reluctant readers and developed a robust series of programs for the community to enjoy.

She described her early days in the role as "absolutely terrifying," adding, "I didn't know what I was doing. The only thing I was familiar with was doing kids' story time."

She also works two other jobs, serving as director of two children's choirs at her church, First United Methodist Church in Lancaster, where she sings in the adult choir and subs in as that group's director occasionally.

Looking back over her decades of service to the library, Jan said she is most proud of the bike and safety rodeo she created with the local police and fire departments and her programs, including Lunch Bunch and So You Want To Be A ...

For the former, she devised a way to encourage kids to read and share their thoughts.

"It's a book discussion group in disguise," she explained of Lunch Bunch. "Kids bring their lunch and whatever they are currently reading, and we talk about their book. Every week, we also have a mystery guest, and they have to discover what the mystery guest does (for a job)."

Although she has mostly happy memories of her time with the library, Jan admits there have been some challenges, such as coming up with STEM programs kids can complete in an hour or not having enough supplies for programs such as a "rocks of love" event she organized that drew 300 people.

"I love the stress, actually," she said. "I don't get near as stressed as I used to because I've had some failures over the years - people who don't show up to present a program or a program that's been terrible."

Those failures, though, were rare, and Jan is proud of what she calls her "pretty good and pretty unique" programs.

She has done whatever it takes to get kids excited about reading. She's dressed as the Cat in the Hat to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday. She's climbed into a stall and read "Click, Clack, Moo" with a cow for a video she made during the pandemic.

Her mantra, she said, has always been to lead with silliness. "I tell people, 'Let your inner child out,'" she said. " 'You may think you're too old for this, but be a kid just for today.'"

Jan, who will turn 66 on July 30, said her husband's retirement two years ago helped inspire her to consider stepping back as well.

It wasn't an easy decision, she admits.

"I love the kids, the patrons. We have the most amazing, kind, generous patrons," she said. "I will miss all of it - the books, our incredible staff."

She's looking forward to traveling with Wayne, visiting friends and family who live all over the country, spending time with her two grown children and just relaxing at home.

She's considering working her "dream job" at a local farm stand, and she and Wayne hope to visit various diners, drive-ins and dives on their travels. She's also looking forward to hanging out more with her dog, Magnolia, and getting to read for pleasure, something she doesn't have much time to do currently.

As her final day at the library nears, Jan is training the four people who will step into her role. Alyssa Mackey and Katelyn Schwab will handle in-house programming, Laura Bear will oversee outreach and Rachel Gable will take over book ordering.

Jan noted that she's now providing programming to the children of the kids she first worked with, and when she goes out in the community, she sometimes feels like a celebrity.

"It was both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time when I rode in the (Memorial Day) parade this year," she said, fighting off tears at the memory. "People were just screaming, 'Miss Jan! Miss Jan!'"

She admits that leaving is bittersweet, but it's time.

"I'm ready for some new challenges," she said. "I've got plans."

Miss Jan's retirement party will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the library. It will feature games and activities, plus live music. For more information, visit https://mslibrary.org.