Two Librarians Killed in Denver Car Crash
Two librarians on their way home to Old Greenwich, Connecticut, from the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting in Denver were killed January 28 when the taxi they were taking to Denver International Airport was struck by a suspected drunk-driver. Kathy Krasniewicz, 54, director of youth services at the Perrot Memorial Library, and Kate McClelland, 71, who retired in 2007 from the same post Krasniewicz held at Perrot, were thrown from the minivan when it was hit by a pickup truck on Peña Boulevard.
Reports in the Greenwich Time and Denver Post said the pickup was driven by Sandra Lee Jacobson, who left the scene but was pursued by police and apprehended at the airport about 10 miles away. The driver of the cab survived the crash but was hospitalized with non–life-threatening injuries.
A longtime ALA member, McClelland was vice-president/president-elect of ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children. She remained active as a storyteller in the Perrot Library’s children’s department following a 28-year career at the library. In 2006 she was honored as a New York Times Librarian of the Year. Krasniewicz was also active in ALSC, and wrote the nomination that led to McClelland’s New York Times honor. She is survived by her husband of 30 years and three children.
Police are investigating the accident, Library Director Kevin McCarthy told American Libraries, so the families have been unable to make memorial arrangements. When they are finalized, they will be posted to the library website, he said. “We’re all walking zombies today, as you can imagine.”
ALA leaders expressed their grief about the deaths of McClelland and Krasniewicz. ALSC officials have created space for posting tributes to the two women at the ALA division’s blog.
Posted on January 29, 2009. Discuss.