WAUPUN — Library Director Bret Jaeger will be retiring this month after serving as the Waupun Public Library director for 29 years.
Jaeger’s retirement was announced at the January 21 Library Board meeting, where he submitted his notice for retirement. His final date of employment was set for March 12, 2026, ending his career as a Library Director at 36 years on the dot.
“The date of March 12 is especially meaningful to me since I started as the Library Director at the Meeker Public Library (Colorado) on March 12, 1990,” Jaeger wrote in his letter declaring his retirement. “I still think of my initial phone interview conducted by Sandy Rohrer and Claudia Waskow in 1997. Then the offer of the job (then-President Mike Bausch gave me 24 hours to think it over), and the decision to move my wife and toddler daughter here. The move was not easy, but we weathered all of the challenges.”
“Looking back, I can’t believe all the things that happened here—two major additions, a library system merger, being part of the State and library system committees, Covid, the drive-up service window and study pod projects, but it looks like I’ll miss the elevator replacement project!”
“Thank you for your support over the years, as well as the support from the Library Board and the library staff,” he concluded the letter.
This was followed by the January 27 City Council meeting, where Mayor of Waupun Rohn Bishop and the Waupun City Council congratulated him on his impending retirement.
A retirement party was held at the Library Tuesday, March 3, which Mayor Bishop attended and spoke at.
“It was my honor to be present and speak at Bret’s retirement,” said Mayor Bishop in a statement following the retirement party. “His dedication to our library over three decades has been outstanding. Bret has overseen multiple additions to the library and a steady growth in circulation. As our third longest serving librarian, Bret has led the library in a way Edwin Hillyer would be proud of. Thank you Bret and enjoy retirement.”
Jaeger has served as the Waupun Library Director since May 19, 1997, just two months shy of 29 years.
The next Waupun Library Director has yet to be announced, as the Library Board is still going through the hiring process.
