MCCLURE — Retirees sometimes welcome the opportunity to sit back and read a good book.

After serving as the executive director of Snyder County Libraries for nearly 16 years and working in libraries for 42 years, you mind think that would be the last thing on Pam Ross’ mind.

It might not be at the top, but her bucket list includes reading.

“I never have time to read a good book,” said Ross, who announced she is retiring her from Snyder County post in February. “I always have a book going but it always takes me a long time to finish it. I’m looking forward to having time to do that.”

Ross oversees the county’s four libraries, located in Beavertown, McClure, Middleburg and Selinsgrove. Prior to that, she was the director of the Forsyth Memorial Library in Northumberland and worked at Susquehanna and Bucknell universities.

“We have a lot of retired people who come to the library, and they get to read all the time and they love it,” she added.

During her tenure, she worked tirelessly to improve the county’s four libraries. “We’ve tried to revitalize all the libraries, fixing them all up continuously to make them more pleasant and inviting places for patrons, Ross said. “We’ve also tried to focus on the needs of our communities.”

At the Beavertown Community Library, that means carrying more large-print books for patrons. Those at the McClure Community Library ask for a wider selection of DVDs.

Ross also plans to spend her retirement relaxing and traveling to areas of the world she and her family have yet to visit. So far, she’s booked a trip to Churchill, Manitoba for a polar bear tour, and also go whale watching for beluga whales.

“A big traveler,” Ross has been to Antarctica, Ecuador, Kenya and Peru.

Ross has been the executive director in Snyder County since 2007. The person who succeeds Ross will have big shoes to fill. The library board will start reviewing applications for the position in mid-December.