Schafer is Arcanum library’s new director

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ARCANUM — Curtis “Curt” Schafer has something to look forward to in the New Year. He will be taking over the duties of director of Arcanum Public Library on the first day of 2017, when his predecessor, Marilyn Walden, officially retires after 30 years of service to the facility.

Schafer said he was actually hired by the library board on Nov. 1, and is being trained by Walden.

“She’s been showing me the ropes,” he said. “I have a lot to learn, but I think I’ll like it. My goal when I went to library school was to become a director.”

Schafer, who lives in Russia, Ohio, graduated from high school there in 2003.

The son of Mike and Ola Schafer, he graduated from the University of Evansville in southern Indiana in 2007 with a bachelor of arts in history and graduated in 2009 from Kent State University with his master’s of library and information science.

He is the fourth in age of three brothers and a sister, all of whom remain in the Shelby County community.

“Two of my brothers are farmers and my sister is a quality engineer,” he said.

After college, Schafer said he spent the next two years doing odd jobs in construction because of the economy in 2009-10.

In November 2011, he became head of the reference department of Piqua Public Library.

And, then he saw where there was an opening, through the Ohio Library Council website, at the Arcanum library.

“I will be taking over all the duties [of the library],” Schafer said. “I think I”m ready. I had so much to learn.”

Schafer married Stacy Starr Hamilton this past April.

“We’re still newlyweds,” he said. “She’s a surgical technologist at Grandview Hospital in Dayton.”

The couple will remain living in Russia.

“We don’t see a need for change for change’s sake,” he replied, when asked if he plans to remain in the Russia area, which is a 30-minute drive to Arcanum. “I usually put a book on CD in the car and listen while driving.”

In his spare time, Schafer enjoys gardening, woodworking, and trap shooting.

“I’m on a league [for trap shooting] at the Newport Sportsman’s Club,” he said.

And, yes he is a reader.

His favorite reading, he said, is mostly mysteries and thrillers “as of late.”

“I read a little bit of everything,” he said. “I go in spurts to something else.”

His favorite author? Umberto Ecco.

“I read a lot in high school,” he said. “I also played baseball and was in Boy Scouts and, in college, I was in the fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

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By Linda Moody

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This writer may be reached at 937-569-4315. Follow her on Facebook and join the conversation and get updates on Facebook by searching Darke County Sports or Advocate 360. For more features online go to dailyadvocate.com.

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