What started as a high school job evolved into a lifelong career for Nancy Seale.

For 40 years, she has been a constant at the Daphne Public Library.

In 1982, while still in high school, Seale was hired by Daphne Public Library director Marian Benefield. In the early days, she spent her time in the library shelving books. As time went on, she took on more responsibilities to include checking out patrons and staffing the library at night and on Saturdays.

In 1991, Seale was promoted to cataloger and today she is the head of the department. Current library director Tonja Young said Seale's work is the backbone of the library.

"The processes she completes while cataloging the books are the backbone of the library — allowing the books to be placed on the shelf for public circulation. When it comes down to it, without our head cataloger Nancy, the library could not provide books ready for people to borrow and read," Young said.

Seale continued her work throughout her time at the University of South Alabama where she earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1995. And she returned to USA to obtain her master's in library science in 2002 with the encouragement of Mary Ann Johnson, who served as library director during that time.

"I became full-time when Mary Ann Johnson became the library director. She mentioned the idea of my getting my master's degree in library science from Alabama," Seale said. "After several years and our move to the current library building more staff were hired. Two more employees were interested in receiving their degree in library science, so we took the classes together. I guess you could say library work choose me."

According to her co-workers, Seale is a dedicated worker with a wonderful sense of humor.

"Nancy is a pillar of our team, and I think people will be interested to know of someone who has been such an important part of our team for so very long," said Anne Morris, reference librarian. "I've worked with Nancy Seale for 14 years. Her attention to so many details, large and small, lets us put our best face forward to the public. Her department makes sure the many anticipated new books are processed speedily (vital in our business) and that the existing books are in good repair while making time to process and shelve donations. This work never ends, but Nancy is absolutely faithful to the library and always on task. She is also quietly hilarious, which is great fun."

Young added, "She has always had a great work ethic, a wonderful sense of humor, and is an integral member of the library team."

When asked what keeps her coming back every day for 40 years Seale said, "the thought that because of what we do at the library, a child who might otherwise not be exposed to the joy of reading will be because they visited a library. This makes me feel that I am doing something worthwhile with my life."