The Meekins Library has a long history and tradition of dedicated and creative Librarians. From its grand opening in February 1897, to this very day, there have been women charting the course of your community library. So, this Thursday, to mark the start of Women’s History Month, we look back and remember and acknowledge those Library Directors and Librarians who have served the Meekins so faithfully for more than 127 years. And we look forward to the future Library endeavors charted by the newest Meekins Library Director, Bev Bullock, and the stalwart library staff. The past Librarians and Library Directors and their years of service:
- 1897-1906 Annie Juliette Hawks (1851-1921), the first Librarian in the new library
- 1906-1917 Myra Hill (1873-1950)
- 1917-1926 Jennie L. Baker (1857-1926)
- 1926-1948 Lizzie P. Bisbee (1880-1962)
- 1948-1956 Evelyn Kmit (1918-2007)
- 1956-1973 Lula B. Smith (1897-1978)
- 1973-1985 Eleanor Hebert (retired)
- 1985-2014 Lisa Wenner, Library Director (retired)
- 1998-2023 Bobbin Young, Technical Services Librarian (d. 2023)
- 2014-2019 Katie Krol (retired)
Those who come to the Meekins Library now, in 2024, either in person or virtually, will find a rich array of library services, materials and programs for patrons of all ages and interests—all put together by the dedicated staff. The Meekins is powered by women. Library Director, Bev Bullock has brought long-time staff members, Rochelle Wildfong, Children’s Librarian, and Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist, together with the newest staff members, Meghan Doyle, Technical Services Librarian and Makayla Skubel, Kmit Youth Programing Librarian, and the steadfast Library Assistants Beth Kilduff, Amber Smith-Harder, Susan Cornell and Wenny Niu who serve the community with grace, skill, and humor. Reach out to your librarians—and they will find that obscure book you want, the answer to your question, or solve that quirky library technology issue for you. As the writer Neil Gaiman put it: “Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.”
Did you remember something special about a Meekins librarian? Please share your memories. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 3/7/2024
