The public is welcome to attend a reception for retiring Ames Public Library Director Lynne Carey. The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Farwell Brown Auditorium at the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave. Refreshments will be served, and there will be a presentation at 5:30 p.m.

Carey is retiring after more than 35 years with the Ames Public Library. She started in 1983 as a part-time, hourly desk assistant while attending Iowa State University. After completing her degree, she was hired as a full-time library assistant in 1986. In 1991, Carey became the Outreach Division Coordinator and eventually added Circulation duties to her position. Through the years, she was involved in volunteer coordination and programming. For the next two decades, Carey served several different positions including Co-Interim Director, Assistant Library Director, and Interim Library Director before being named the Ames Public Library Director in 2013.