Candace Vessella's life is more than an open book

Candace Vessella is poring over technical manuals learning how to operate cash registers and scanners as we meet in the Lewes Library's Delaware Room. It's not something anyone expects her to be doing, but then again, it comes as no surprise given her penchant to throw herself into every organization and event she's involved with.

“If I have to teach others, I better learn how to do this myself,” she says with a smile.

As president of the Friends of the Lewes Library, she is preparing for the big move in May to the new library, which includes the opening of the first Friends gift shop.

A member of the Friends since 2010, she has served as president since 2012. Little did she know that she would play an important role in selling the idea of a new Lewes library.

She is a member of the long list of retirees who have moved to the area and immersed themselves in the community.

“I have flunked retirement in a major way, but I'm having a lot of fun,” she says.

It's hard for Candace not to talk about the library when you speak to her. “This is the friendliest library in Sussex County; people feel good coming here,” she says.

She was among a small group meeting with the public before there was a location or design for the new library, which is expected to open for business sometime in June. “We weren’t even sure if expansion of the current library might be an option,” she said.

It was her mission to explain why a new library was needed when to some people, the old library seemed to be functioning extremely well.

“Our shelves are full, and our collections have not been able to grow the last several years,” she said. The library has more than 57,000 items in its collections.

In addition, even with an average of about 60 programs, meetings, classes and events a month, there are even more unmet demands. “The variety of classes and programs we have now is stunning, and now it will only grow,” she said.

More space is needed for teen and youth books and programs. The new library will have separate sections for both groups with a program room and a teen technology center.

The new library will also have small, medium and large meeting rooms that can be used beyond library hours. There's much more space for staff and storage as well as expanded adult nonfiction and fiction areas, a computer training center, study rooms and even a quiet room. A large gas-fired fireplace dominates the southern wall.

“This is the library of the future where the spaces are changeable; it's a flexible model,” Candace said. The new $10.4 million library is twice as large as the old library – 14,000 compared to 28,500 square feet.

A full-circle library experience

Candace says she has come full circle in her association with the library. During her freshman year at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, she majored in library science. That same year, she became involved in the university’s debate team and discovered that she was excited by the communications field, so she switched majors and graduated with degree in communications and a minor in history. At American University, she graduated with a degree in international relations and international communications with a specialty in Africa.

After her education, she received a congressional fellowship working on Capitol Hill with former Hawaiian Sen. Daniel Inouye. Along the way, she also joined the U.S. Navy Reserves.

The decorated U.S. Navy Reservist served in high-profile assignments in Washington, D.C., including a Senior Senate Liaison for the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Capt. Vessella's last assignment was as commander of the Naval Reserve Intelligence Area where she managed 13 reserve units and 850 personnel in the Washington, D.C. area.

In the private sector, she worked for the top two defense contractors in the world – Lockheed Martin Corp. and BAE Systems.

Like many others, she fell in love with Lewes on her first visit.

She said a chance conversation with a colleague in 1994 led to her first trip to Lewes. “We were daydreaming about retirement,” she said, adding she had a specific list of requirements including proximity to the ocean, quaintness and easy access to big cities.

“My colleague told me that I had just described Lewes, so I stayed at the Inn at Canal Square that weekend and two weeks later bought my first house,” she said.

She moved full time to Lewes in 2009, but in 1995, she bought and renovated a home on Chestnut Street where she spent most weekends and holidays. In 2003, she moved and renovated a home on Devries Circle where she now lives with her husband, Adrian Nakayama.

“I like making a difference and enjoy seeing results. I've looked for areas to do that,” she said.

Still work to do as new library opens

She says there is still work to do. “Just because the building is up, we haven't reached our campaign goal yet,” she said, adding $1 million still needs to be raised.

And the Friends have an updated mission, she said. Candace said most of the Friends' $50,000 annual budget goes to purchase books and other materials for the library. She said the board has challenged the Friends to increase their budget by 20 percent per year for the next few years to put more books on the shelves.

The Candace Vessella File

Born and raised in Connecticut

Married to Adrian Nakayama in 2005

President, Friends of Lewes Library

Vice chair, Lewes Board of Adjustment

Previous member Lewes Board of Public Works

Vice president of government affairs, BAE Systems, 2003-2009

Lockheed Martin Corp., 1989-2003

Department of Defense, Senior Senate Liaison, Defense Intelligence Agency, 1979-1989

U.S. Navy Reserves, 1983-2008; retired as commander, Navy Reserve Intelligence Area, Washington, D.C.

Graduate Notre Dame Academy; Southern Connecticut State University; School of International Service

LIBRARY BY THE NUMBERS

525 Average daily attendance

18,000 Current number of residents in the service area

35,000 Predicted number of residents in service area by 2030