Sydelle Fay “Sydie” Freidlin Marcus, 78, a retired school librarian, died February 27. She worked most recently at Yorktown (Va.) Elementary School but previously served as librarian at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria and as head research librarian for Arlington Public Schools.
Leonard Kniffel, 73, editor in chief of American Libraries (AL) from 1996 until his 2011 retirement, died March 19. He started his library career as a page at Detroit Public Library in 1970 and joined AL in 1988. Kniffel wrote several books, including A Polish Son in the Motherland and Busia: School Days on the … Continue reading Kniffel, Leonard
Margaret Howard, 96, retired librarian at Cherokee Lane and Seabrook elementary schools in Prince George’s County, Maryland, died January 10.
Jack Ellenberger, 90, former president of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), died November 21. He started his career as law librarian at the US Department of Health before working at several law firms. He received AALL’s Marian Gould Gallagher Distinguished Service Award in 1994 and is a member of the AALL Hall of … Continue reading Ellenberger, Jack
Loretta “Lolly” Eggers, 91, died February 26. She worked at Iowa City (Iowa) Public Library from 1969–1994, including 20 years as director. During her tenure, Eggers helped to modernize the library, and in 1980 it became one of the first in the country to have computerized checkout and catalog systems. She wrote the books A … Continue reading Eggers, Loretta
Margaret Carty, 82, executive director of the Maryland Library Association (MLA) since 1999, died February 4. During her tenure, she revitalized MLA, building a sustainable conference and forging partnerships with NASA and the Delaware Library Association. Carty was recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2013 by the Maryland Daily Record.
Nichole O’Connor, YALSA program officer for conferences and events, left April 2.
Paula Montgomery, 74, a school librarian, educator, publisher, and speaker, died March 3. She began her library career at Montgomery County (Md.) Public Schools before serving as chief of school library media services at the Maryland State Department of Education from 1979 to 1988. In 1989 she became assistant professor at Western Maryland College. She also … Continue reading Montgomery, Paula
Margaret Shaffer, 80, a librarian for 35 years and director of Terrebonne Parish (La.) Library from 1973 to 1995, died January 30.
Regina Slezak, 76, former director of Newport (R.I.) Public Library, died December 11. Slezak had also served as children’s librarian at Ridgewood (N.J.) Public Library, coordinator of East Providence (R.I.) Public Library, and director of Fall River (Mass.) Public Library. In the 1970s, she taught library science at the Western Australian Institute of Technology in … Continue reading Slezak, Regina
Marie Louise Sorensen, 86, a longtime librarian at DeKalb (Ill.) Community School District, died December 16.
“A Literary Landmark is a source of pride for the community,” says Beth Nawalinski, director of United for Libraries, the American Library Association division that now oversees the program. Often the collaboration of Friends groups, community leaders, and literary organizations, these landmarks “demonstrate the power and synergy of those who support the library and literacy … Continue reading The Reader’s Road Trip
