Three Librarians Inducted to MLA Hall of Fame at 2008 Annual Conference
Ruth Kowal of the Boston Public Library, Krista McLeod of the Nevins Memorial Library (Methuen), and Sharon St. Hilaire of the
Seekonk Public Library were
inducted to the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Hall of Fame
during the organization’s Annual Conference held May 9, 2008 at the Sea
Crest Resort and Conference Center in Falmouth, MA. This honor is
bestowed upon practicing or retired librarians who have made a
substantial, sustained contribution to advancing the cause of
Massachusetts librarians or librarianship over a career of at least ten
years. Inductees' contributions may be in the fields of public service,
education, advocacy, mentoring, service to the profession, or other
areas. Inductees may work or have worked in school, public, special, or
academic libraries, in library education, agencies, or associations.
Beginning her career in a public library in Falmouth, Ruth Kowal,
moved to the consortia/network sphere in Central and Eastern
Massachusetts and Upstate New York organizations. She now serves as
Deputy Director of the Boston Public Library with wide-ranging
responsibilities for both the physical (such as renovation and
restoration of the McKim Building) and virtual/technical aspects of the
Library (from the introduction of fax machines to the latest web
developments). She played a pivotal role in the creation of
Massachusetts’ current six-region configuration which has resulted in
multitype regions that provide tremendous benefits to over 1,200
libraries and their users.
During
her career dedicated to library service she also served as President of
NELINET, a New England Library Consortium. She has served as a leader
and mentor to many librarians sharing her vision and dedication to
service across the Commonwealth.
Krista McLeod served as President of MLA and has worked
tirelessly for many years advocating for libraries and for the
Association. She is, perhaps, best know in her current role as Co-chair
of the MLA Legislative Committee and organizer of numerous advocacy
activities. She invites all library supporters to attend Library
Legislative Day each year and reminds us of the importance of libraries
to our society. Behind the scenes she works with other leaders in the
library community to advance the cause of libraries. Her efforts
recently led to the first joint Legislative Day with MLA and
Massachusetts School Library Association. She also served many
positions, including President of the New England Library Association.
At the local level, she serves as Director of the Nevins Memorial
Library in Methuen and led the library through a tremendously successful
renovation and expansion that resulted in a “showplace” library in that
community.
During her career dedicated to library service she also served as
President of NELINET, a New England Library Consortium. She has served
as a leader and mentor to many librarians sharing her vision and
dedication to service across the Commonwealth
Sharon St. Hilaire
has been a change agent for public libraries since beginning her career
in 1976 when she opened the East End Branch of the Fall River Public
Library. She was awarded her Master of Library Science from the
University of Rhode Island, and has been Director of the Seekonk Public
Library since 1977.
Her
leadership is evident in her roles Project Manager for the ABLE library
network; Chairman of the Eastern Massachusetts Regional Library System
Advisory Committee where she was instrumental in working to encourage
the Board of Library Commissioners to provide state funding to the
shared automated networks; Co-chair of the Eastern Region Planning Task
Force, which was the basis for the statewide strategic plan and the
birth of the regional systems as member driven non-profit corporations
with multitype library membership.
MLA introduces
between three and five inductees to the Hall of Fame Award during even
numbered years at the its Annual Conference. Nominations are evaluated
by the MLA Public Relations Committee and recommendations to name
inductees are recommended and approved by the MLA Executive Board.
Previous MLA Hall of Fame Inductees
2006: Joseph Hopkins, Christine Kardokas, Anne M. O'Brien
2004: Louise Brown, Kim Charlson, Marjorie Judd
2002 : Keith Michael Fiels, Lois Kane, James Matarazzo, Anne Reynolds
2000: Donna Guerin, Professor Ruth Leonard, Edward J. Montana
1998: Maggie Bush, Audrey Friend, Shelley Quezada, Jan Resnick
1996: Kay Bader, Connie Clancy, Virginia Tashjian
