NORTHWEST : LA PALMA : Local Librarian, 67, Retires After 30 Years

It wasn’t the flashers that rattled librarian Joseph Bearse in his 24 years at the local branch library.

Nor was it the boy who photocopied his privates on a library machine. And it wasn’t the heart attack victim either.

“He just fell suddenly, near Biographies,” recalled Bearse, who himself had quadruple heart bypass surgery 10 years ago. “The paramedics came and got him.”

Instead, it was the fanfare that surrounded his recent retirement that had the 67-year-old former reference librarian misty-eyed. More than 150 library workers and patrons turned out for a party earlier this month to recognize Bearse for his service.

“I was overwhelmed, almost completely,” said Bearse, who also received thanks from the City Council this month for his dedication to the local library. “They made me feel like I was something special.”

After 30 years with the Orange County library system, Bearse officially retired Sept. 2. Co-workers and friends fondly praised the Anaheim resident for his diligence and love of his work.

“He’s an excellent reference librarian,” said colleague Kit Winters, a senior library clerk who has known Bearse for 13 years.

“If you ask for the most obscure thing, he’ll find it even if he was to go coast to coast to get it,” Winters said. “He wouldn’t quit until he found it for you.”

Bearse said his drive to uncover facts and love of knowledge led him to work in a library.

“I enjoy finding things for people,” said the onetime cartographer, who majored in geography at UCLA. “They come in and want to know something and I may not know the answer, but I know where to find it.”

One book he had difficulty obtaining for patrons was “Sex” by singer Madonna, he said. Bearse, who was responsible for ordering books for the library, said he regretted not being able to get a copy for the branch. Library supervisors decided to purchase only two copies of the book for the entire county, so there was a long waiting list.

“There was an obvious demand for the book but the higher-ups made this decision,” said Bearse, who usually had a free hand to order the books he wanted.

At his departure, Bearse lamented the county’s cutbacks in library services. When he started with the county, libraries were open six days a week for nearly 60 hours, he said. Today, the local branch is open four days a week for less than 30 hours.

“I’m not getting out because of the cutbacks. That’s really a coincidence,” Bearse said. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and I’m tired and want to get out and relax.”

Bearse, who admitted to being a pack rat, said he wants to sort through his numerous “junk” collections that fill his mobile home. He is also looking forward to exercising more, and possibly doing some traveling.

“We will miss him,” said Shizuko Goetzka, a local library volunteer. “He’s Mr. Wonderful.”