Tim Peters to retire after 35 years with Minitex

In 1989, when Tim Peters started at Minitex, some things were the same as they are now. Minitex was located in the basement of Wilson Library at the University of Minnesota, for example. (We’ve moved out and then back in over the years.) Some things were different: there were persistent water leaks in the office, the staff was much smaller, and there wasn’t a Minitex Cooperative Purchasing program.

On November 1, Tim will retire from his position as Products Coordinator. After starting in the Minitex finance unit back in 1989, he built our Cooperative Purchasing and E-Resources Services (CPERS) unit from the ground up, including both library products and e-resources. As the work expanded, so too did the unit, and Tim began focusing solely on library products. He has been a trusted, friendly, expert hand in that role for many years, with a particular focus on service. He prides himself on shipping out orders the day they’re received, and has been known to hand-deliver orders to libraries near and far. Tim has also mentored numerous student workers as they pursued their studies over the years at the University of Minnesota. His stewardship has saved libraries millions of dollars, enabling them to do more.

As Tim’s thoughts turn to what’s next, we thought we’d ask him some questions about the past:

What do you remember about your first days or weeks or months at Minitex?

My recollection of my first days at Minitex revolves around our office located in the sub-basement of Wilson Library. The room was very small, we had the whole Minitex operation of about 15 full-time staff and students jammed along with the sorting of materials and all the verification of interlibrary loan requests stacked on top of each other. When it rained, the walls all leaked, so we had to watch the weather reports and cover our computers with sheets of plastic.

How has Minitex changed since you started?

Over the 35 years we have grown out of that basement office space, moved to Andersen Library, and then back to our current home in Wilson. Our staff has probably quadrupled. The amount of requests, and orders placed through CPERS has skyrocketed. What used to take one person now is 3-4 people.

How have libraries changed since you started?

When I started, real physical card catalogs were still in use in libraries. There were no online databases; CD ROM had not been implemented; there was no such thing as streaming video. It was pretty basic, but we still got the job done.

Are there any moments in your career that stand out as particularly memorable?

I remember all the travel through Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, going to library conferences and shows, and one conference in particular in Sioux Falls, on an April day in the early 2000’s, when it started raining on the way. By the time we hit Mankato it was sleeting, by Albert Lea it was snowing super hard. We were the last car into Sioux Falls that night with the State Patrol closing the gate to the freeway as we went by. The normal 4.5 hour drive took 7 hours. But we made it.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your job?

The people at Minitex and the management that allowed me to work my CPERS job and also coach 3 sports for 17 years at Anoka High School. I think over 60 of my former high school athletes that attended the U of M ended up working our front desk at Minitex as student workers.

What qualities have made you successful in your career?

I learned from my grandmother to treat everyone with equal respect. All people are different, so give everyone the same respect they give you. I tried to be a quick responder and I always returned calls within 24 hours and most within an hour.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan on spending most of my time with my family at my lake home in Northern Minnesota. Tons of yard work, fishing, taking care of the grandkids, fishing, traveling, fishing... you get the idea. It’s so peaceful and quiet. Instead of sirens, I hear the loons, trumpeter swans, crickets, bull frogs, geese, ducks and the wind blowing through the trees.

I’d like to thank all my friends and coworkers for 35 great years. I enjoyed every day and wouldn’t have had it any other way.  

Thanks!

-Tim