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NORTH ATTLEBORO

After 31 years of shelving books, training volunteers and helping patrons at Richards Memorial Library, Mary Twiraga is ready to close that chapter of her life.

Twiraga's last day behind the circulation desk was Saturday - and she is quick to joke that her retirement is not a moment too soon.

"I tell people that I was 5-foot-7 when I stated working here, and I've been on my feet so long that I'm 5-foot-2, now," she said, before turning serious.

"It's been a great place to work, but I'm ready to get on with the rest of my life. At some point, you have to leave the dance and go home." Jokes aside - and there were plenty of them - Twiraga said her retirement is bittersweet since she'll miss her co-workers and the patrons she has cheerfully helped over the years.

"I like to think of the library as 'Cheers' - a place you can walk in and people call you by your name," she said. "I became addicted to dealing with the public. It's fun. It's like hosting a party that you didn't have to pay for."

Twiraga started working part time at the library in an age of card catalogs and pencils, when her children were in grade school. At that time, she was drawn to the job simply because it was close to her children's schools and gave her the chance to interact with adults.

"As a young mother, it was a nice civilized place to work," Twiraga said. "It was great to talk to adults and interact with people you didn't have to cut meat for. It was an instant social life."

From her early days of shelving books, Twiraga enjoyed the job so much that she took library science courses at the University of Rhode Island for specialized training in reference and cataloging. She kept up with the changes over the years - and learned to use a computer - and soon found herself moving up the ladder.

"The job just evolved, and one day they told me 'You're in charge of the circulation desk,' " Twiraga said. "It was a surprise to me and everyone else."

Her retirement caps off an exciting year on many levels.

"It's been an amazing year with the birth of my grandson, Karl. He came a few days early, but he was due on my birthday. I turned 60 at the end of March, so I was winding down to retirement. I keep saying that I should play the lottery because it's been such an amazing year," she said.

Twiraga already has her early summer plans mapped out.

"It's time to dig the canoe out, go for bicycle rides and read for fun," she said. "I'm going to spend a lot more time with my grandson. I'm going to do some gardening because the weeds are getting a little deep in the yard. And when that's done, I'm going to have a Corona light with a lime and sit in the garden and read a book." Twiraga enjoys reading, particularly mysteries, which she called "mental popcorn." Her favorite authors are Nancy Thayer, Fanny Flagg, Robert Crais and Robert Parker.

While she'll be taking it easy this summer, Twiraga plans to volunteer at the American Association of Retired Persons national convention in September. She also plans to volunteer elsewhere, as well.

"I hope to never work again - well, I mean I hope to never work for money again," Twiraga said. "There's something really liberating about getting rid of the 'hafta's. I won't have to get up in the morning, and I won't have to get dressed for work."

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.