Leah Josephine Fidler was born Oct. 23, 1932, in Glenville, West Virginia, the daughter of Paul W. and Beulah Fidler. She attended elementary, junior high, and high schools at Troy, where she graduated in 1950. She graduated Glenville State College, now University, and obtained her master's degree in Library Science from Indiana University.
Her first job was as the first school librarian at Tygart Valley High School, Randolph County.
In 1955, she returned to Glenville State College as assistant librarian. In 1957, she became library director at Alderson Broaddus College, in Philippi, West Virginia. In 1963, she became an instructor in the Department of Library Science at MU. Fidler taught a second year, and then moved to the Cataloguing Department at Marshall's Morrow Library. She served in several capacities at Marshall University Libraries, including 10 years as director of libraries beginning in 1987.
Challenges of funding and staff vacancies, automating the cataloguing and circulation systems and construction faced the library. In 1991 a committee was named to begin planning a new state-of-the-art library. She was a member of the committee. On Oct. 24, 1998, the $31 million Drinko Library was dedicated.
Fidler served on the Dean's Council at Marshall and as a trustee on the Pittsburgh Regional Center for several years. In 1999, she announced her retirement and continues to remain active in library and community work.
Fidler served as president of the West Virginia Library Association, Huntington Branch of the American Association of University Women, Pilot Club, Friends of the Cabell County Public Library, and Psi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma during her career. She received several awards, including the Marshall University Service Award, Dora Ruth Park's Award from WVLA, the Lucy B. Pritchard Award from the Pilot Club of Huntington, and a service award from the West Virginia Baptist Historical Society.
She taught Sunday school at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church for 40 years, served as a member of the Church Council, and the Missions/Ministries Commission. She was actively involved in missions, taking trips to Alaska, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Fidler belongs to several local organizations, including the Pilot Club of Huntington, PEO Chapter M, Alpha Chapter Delta Kappa Gamma, Cabell County Friends of the Library, and the Women's Club of Huntington.
