Love for the library began early for Bellwood’s Bilka
BELLWOOD — Hazel Bilka's love for the library began at a young age.
"My library experience started at Keith Junior High, I was in the library club in seventh and eighth grades," Bilka recalled.
Bilka retired July 1 as executive director and head librarian at the Bellwood-Antis Public Library.
She served the library for more than 50 years, starting out in 1970 as a volunteer under Betty Kurtz, who started the library in 1965 in the former Cook building on Main Street. Bilka was hired as assistant librarian in 1972 and became executive director and head librarian in 1992 when Kurtz retired.
"Betty was a role model. She wanted me to take over; she knew I would continue the library the way she had imagined it," Bilka said. "Betty would stop any work she was doing to help people. Without people there was no work. She would help an 8-year-old kid on a project as well as adults, that is the way she thought it should be."
Bilka prefers to talk more about the library rather than herself and credits Kurtz's husband, Paul, for helping the library reach its present location at 526 Main St.
"Paul Kurtz wrote a book and donated the proceeds to the library to buy ground. In 1980, there was a major fire in downtown Bellwood which destroyed five blocks. This provided the opportunity to buy the ground for the library site in the center of town," Bilka said.
There have been two major expansions over the years. In 1997, two end additions were created to make space for meeting rooms and, in 2007, a children's room was added.
"For a small town — we have less than 9,000 people in Bellwood and Antis Township — we have one of the nicest libraries around," Bilka said.
The library has gone through many changes over the years, she said, moving from mimeograph machines to fax machines to computers.
"Everything is online today," she said, noting the library has 30 computers for patrons to use. "WiFi access is available for everyone," Bilka added.
While not as many people check out books today as in years past, many continue to enjoy reading a book, she said.
"There is nothing like sitting a child on your lap and reading a book," she added.
The library's meeting rooms play a bigger role today, as the library "functions as a community center for Bellwood," Bilka said. "Lots of clubs and organizations meet there, it is impactful, it is not just books."
The library is also a great resource for children.
"We offer a lot of children's programming," she said, noting many people can't afford to constantly pay for entertainment for their children.
"The library offers a lot of free programming that is good for kids. We have toys and games for kids, and we host play dates. We have many things for them to play with," Bilka said.
Bilka, who continues as a volunteer at the library, said she always enjoyed helping people.
"That was my favorite part of the job, helping them find what they are looking for," she said. "People who used the library were my good friends. I enjoyed seeing it grow and expand, we worked hard for that. Funding is always tough, our library is as nice as any in Blair County. I would hold the Bellwood library to one anywhere in the state for a town of our size," Bilka said.
Jessica Ford Cameron, who has worked at various libraries in Blair County since 2005, has succeeded Bilka.
"I knew Hazel long before I joined the Bellwood-Antis Public
Library team in 2017, and I have always admired how her tenacity allowed the library to grow so much since its founding in 1965," Cameron said.
"The library would not be the community hub it has become over the years without her hard work and vision. Her years of commitment to the library has made it the heart of the Bellwood-Antis community," she added.
Longtime former library board members praised Bilka for her efforts.
"Hazel is effervescent, a real mover and shaker, she has done a magnificent job, we've had growth, growth and growth, that says it all," Perry Haupt said.
Robert Holes said Bilka has done so much for the community in her time at the library.
"She was a very efficient librarian and a friend, she very capably ran the library. She provided leadership for the library and the community," Robert Holes said.
Current board members speak highly of Bilka.
"She has been a tireless fundraiser for the library and knew who to call if there was a need. She has been a staunch advocate for the library and worked to keep it in the forefront of activity in Bellwood," said President Eileen Conlon.
"I'm grateful for Hazel's lifelong consideration to this place and to the people who live in this community. Her dream has come true and continues to grow now with others who are ready to keep the library engaged and vital to our sense of community here in Bellwood," said Vice President Ann Bickel.
Bilka was one of the founders of the Bellwood-
Antis Community Trust in the early 1990s and served as executive director until 2022.
The trust helped with numerous projects such as the creation of the Bells Gap Rail Trail — of which Bilka was president — and helped George Palmer start The Door, a youth organization designed to reach local at-risk youth.
Bilka said she believes community service is an important part of community life.
"It is where we live. I think the more involved we can all be the better we can help our community. It takes people being involved to keep things going," Bilka said.
Funding remains the biggest challenge facing the library today, as costs of everything have gone up over the years, including utilities. Bilka said better funding starts at the state level.
"We are one of the poorest funded states around. We are like the stepchild of the Department of Education. The county commissioners, borough and township do what they can do but the state is falling short on this. It is important for all communities to have a library, consolidation is not the answer," Bilka said.
Bilka said the library is in good hands under Cameron and assistant Alex Preston.
"Jessica is doing an excellent job with the library, starting some new programs, the two of them have some exciting new ideas for the library," Bilka said.
In addition to volunteer work at the library, Bilka plans to do some traveling with her significant other, Mike Stefanick, and spend more time with her family.
"My philosophy is to travel as much as I can as long as I can because you don't know when you can't do it any longer," Bilka said.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.
The Bilka file
Name: Hazel Bilka
Age: "70ish"
Position: Retired as executive director and head librarian at Bellwood-Antis Public Library.
Education: Graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1965, received an associate degree from Penn State Altoona in 1990 in letters, arts and sciences. Received credits in library science from Shippensburg University.
Family: Late husband, Aloysius Rudolph Jr.; companion Mike Stefanick; children, James Daniel and Aloysius Rudolph III; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
