Happy Retirement, Becky!

I think we surprised her!

All hail Becky!

For she's a jolly good fellow!

And a grand time was had!

The cake says it all!

Thanks to everyone who contributed time, effort, food, fellowship, and cleaned up after.  You are the best!

Finally, Jud wrote a memo to the staff when Becky moved here from Avoca.  It was a fitting tribute to her then, and just as fitting now.

From Jud:

"I want to personally welcome Becky Berry to the Main Library and want to share with everyone how difficult it was to tear her loose from her fans down at Avoca. Becky is treasured down there for her winning ways: for her ability to smile at people and call them by their first names. The folks at Avoca are terrified that without Becky, it will never happen to them anymore.

Why? Because, according to them, nobody smiles or calls people by their first names at the Main Library. And if Becky got taken away, it would mean the smiling at Avoca would stop....

In fact, I thought it would be useful to share this with everyone just so that we could understand what it is about Becky Berry that makes her so special to these people. I don’t mean to put her on the spot because she’s modest and humble, but I do think it would be good for all of us to realize the very simple and easy things you *must* do in order to make the library a place that people want to come to.

I can say all I want to about the threat of changing technology to the future of libraries. But the best thing to keep libraries viable will be people who treat the public like Becky Berry does."

Thank you, Becky.  We will do our best to uphold your high standards.  We'll miss you, and our patrons will too.  We wish you all the best that life has to offer, and we expect you to stop by often.