Agnes Ho said her father suggested she study library science when she came to America — as both a minority and a woman — because every town will always have a library.
Now the director of libraries for the Neuse Regional Library System, Ho, who was born in Shanghai, China and raised in Taiwan, started her professional career 40 years ago at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library after earning a Master of Library Science from Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y.
“(My dad) wanted me to come to this county for the advancement of my career,” said Ho, who received her education — including a college diploma — in Taiwan. “My mom was so brave to send me far away.”
Starting as a reference librarian when her husband Howard Ho got a job in engineering at the Kinston DuPont plant, she was promoted to the Director of Libraries for the Neuse system, which serves three counties and eight respective libraries.
Ho wanted to major in business since she was “business-minded” since childhood, but instead she listened to her father and pursued a career in library science.
“In China, you have to remember, daddy is the boss,” she said in her unique Chinese accent, “but I’m very pleased I’ve been able to use my business mind to run the library.”
She was packaging a budget for the system at her office Tuesday.
“When people think about (the) library, they think about books or magazines,” said Ho, who called herself very organized. “Running a library is really like running a business.”
She recalls various updates to the library in her four decades involved. In 1973, the organization was housed out of the Kinston-Lenoir Chamber of Commerce building before relocating to the current North Queen Street address in 1984.
Other updates include access to electronic books and music compared to hard copies.
“We are preparing for 21st century changes to make sure modern technology is available at the library,” Ho said. “It’s big changes.”
Language and food were major adjustments for her when she arrived to the United States.
Having spent two years in New York before moving to Kinston, Ho noted Northern speech was faster than Southern speech.
“When I first came to this country, whenever I talk with you, I think in Chinese first then I quickly translate to English,” Ho said, who learned English in high school.
She now skips the Chinese and thinks directly in English, still using her native tongue with family, including her two children, siblings and mother.
Ho frequently indulges in Chinese soap operas and novels, a few of which are on the bookshelf in her office.
Kinston culture also differs from China.
“In China, we do not smile at anyone if we don’t know you,” she said. “I always think people here are very nice and friendly.”
Ho plans to stay in the city a few more years. Her husband’s had opportunities to transfer to other places, but opted out because she has built a successful career here.
Along with her leadership role in the library system, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Pride of Kinston and Lenoir Memorial Hospital.
“Kinston is really growing,” Ho said as she remembers there wasn’t so much as a McDonald’s when she first arrived. “I want to encourage parents to bring their kids to the library. I would say reading is the key to success.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.