I got leid at the State Librarian retirement party

Janet Martin Welch, distinguished New York State Librarian is retiring from service next month.  Her retirement party was held yesterday on the fourth floor of the New York State Museum.  It was tropical themed with plenty of desert options. 

The party centered around what she has done for New York State libraries and praising her for her advocacy efforts.  She looked rather uncomfortable as legislators, regents, advocates, and coworkers stepped up to the mic to present her with honors and going away presents. 

The best story of the party came from Carol Desch, Coordinator of Statewide Library Services and Director of Library Development (also my boss’ boss).  Melvil Dewey, who many consider the father of modern librarianship, was a misogynist and an anti-semite.  So when Janet became the first female New York State Librarian (a position

held by Dewey), she told a news reporter that she hoped he was “spinning in his grave.”  A portrait of Dewey hangs in the New York State Library’s Librarians Room along with the last State Librarian Joseph F. Shubert (who was at the party).  A beautiful/very regal looking portrait of Janet will be hanging directly across from Dewey in the Librarians Room, so he can always see how wrong he was.  It was definitely a girl-power moment.

 

You can read more about her retirement in the NYSALB (New York State Association of Library Boards) newsletter.

~ by librarynerd on May 17, 2008.