Long before he became the library’s administrator for capital improvement projects, maintaining the library buildings, and overseeing the library’s operating budget, library deputy director Pat Corella drove the Bookmobile around town. That's right. He drove the bus that brought books to residents who lived in the county and didn’t have a library nearby.
That was several years and several job titles ago, but talking with him as he shares stories about the library, you would think it all happened yesterday. November marks 50 years of service for Pat Corella. He’s retiring from the Pima County Public Library on November 26.
Is he counting the days? Yes. Does he have a lot of good memories? You bet.
Corella was hired as a library page in November 1965. He was 19, glad to have a job, and learned the ins and outs of how the library worked while he re-shelved books and filed paperwork. Carving out a career in public administration soon became his goal, and the library was the place he wanted to be. “You get into government work, you’re okay,” Corella remembers thinking at the time. “You can solve things, and give back to the community. You can do all kinds of good stuff.”
During his career, Corella has built or opened 19 libraries, and he’s overseen 16 expansion and renovation projects for the department. A pretty impressive list of accomplishments considering there are 27 libraries in the County’s library system.
“I always feel that I’ve been blessed,” Corella said while sitting in his office on the 4th floor of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library. His window overlooks the pink dome of the old Pima County courthouse and “A” Mountain. “I fell in the right positions, worked with the right people. There were an awful lot of people who helped me along. Librarians, administrators…they all helped.”
Attributing some of his success to sheer luck, Corella acknowledges there was a lot of hard work early on. Corella, who was the middle son of six kids, grew up in South Tucson. He remembers being 7 or 8 when he started going to California during the summer with his family to work in the fields picking fruit and vegetables. His father worked in construction, but the work wasn’t always steady. The money that the family earned during those summers helped to support them throughout the year. Later on as a teenager, Corella would work in California during the summer and come back to Tucson in the fall. Starting at the age of 14, he lived by himself at times so that he could go to school. His family continued working during the harvest season.
When Corella was in his 20s, he was a full-time undergrad student at the University of Arizona and worked 36 hours, six days a week. As an equipment operator, he was up at 4:30 in the morning to move two large mobile book trailers to designated neighborhood locations around the city where people could browse for books and check them out. Corella’s wife, Gloria, also worked full time to support the family, which by then included their young son, Hipolito. Their daughter, Justine, would join the family later.
Corella earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts in three years, completing courses in accounting and finance along the way.
With the exception of the nine months that he was a research analyst with the city’s Budget and Research Department, Corella has been employed at the library. He returned to the department because he enjoyed seeing the tangible results of his efforts and work.
“In the field, building libraries—all of these buildings that I’ve worked on—that’s what I hope people will remember me for,” Corella says.
According to Library Director Melinda Cervantes, Pat Corella has always been willing to lend an ear and offer advice, and that he will hold a special place in the hearts and minds of his colleagues at the library.
“Through Pat's leadership and sound decisions—especially during these last five years— Pima County Public Library is on sound footing with a bright future ahead.”
Over the years, in fact, many people inside and outside the library have turned to him as a mentor or adviser. Several organizations have already approached him about serving on their boards during his soon-to-be “free time.” For now, however, he’s going to kick back, start reading—without interruption—that stack of books he has collected, and relish his new full-time job as a retiree.
“I’m leaving on my own terms,” Corella explains. “It’s been a great ride.”
Fun facts about Pat Corella
His Pueblo High School class of 1965 included former Pima County Supervisor Dan Eckstrom.
Years employed at the library: 50
Libraries built or opened: 19
Library expansion and remodel projects: 16
Positions held at the library: 9
Number of library directors during his tenure: 8
Grandchildren: 4
Children: 2
His career at a glance
Library Page, 1965-1966
Clerk I, 1966-1967
Equipment Operator I, II, 1967-1975
Administrative Assistant I, II 1975-1978
Research Analyst II, III, 1978-1979
Administrative Assistant IV, 1979-1981
Department Administrative Manager, 1981-1987
Assistant Library Director, 1987-2005
Deputy Library Director, 2005-Present
Favorite books
Shogun, by James Clavell
The Milagro Beanfield War, by John Nichols
Pat’s advice
1. Be patient.
2. Learn everything you can.
3. Have no fear.
4. Know how to count.
