After nearly two decades at NPHS, librarian Patty Birch is retiring. When Birch began her career here, she was in the old building. “I made every decision you are looking at in this room [the library],” she said. Originally, the stairs that are outside the library were supposed to be inside the library. She spent a year fighting to ensure that the stairs found their home outside the library and eventually, she reigned victorious. “I’m really proud that happened with the stairs, but overall I’m very pleased with how everything turned out in the new building.” She is looking forward to working on some projects and spending more time with her family after she retires, but she is going to miss being at the school, including the time spent with her two closest colleagues, Carol Beggs and Jane Hassel. Birch said, “You have to go through all the stuff and throw it away, and that’s a challenge. I’ll miss the work. I love what I do.”