[Skowhegan Friends Homepage] [The Library Lookout] [The Library Lookout: Back Issues] [Minutes] [Links to Sites of Related Interest] [Computer Classes] [Photo Album] [Please Fill Out Our Survey] [Library in the News] [Links to Reference Material]
|
Selections
from the Retiring Children’s Librarian Lois Moody HonoredOn Friday, July 19th, retired children’s librarian Lois Moody was the guest of honor at a public receptionheld at the Skowhegan Free Public Library. Many of her friends from her years of service attended to thank her for a job well done. Mrs. Moody accepted the job at the request of Helen Shaw not long after that lady became the Head Librarian upon the retirement of Helen Buxton. The oldest of nine children, Mrs. Moody helped bring up her brothers and sisters through the period of the great depression. “It was like I was the mother to all these children,” she says. Her care-taking skills carried her into a 21-year career as a Practical Nurse at the Redington-Fairview Hospital. She also helped care for several members of her family in their final years. It is small wonder that she misses her husband of 54 years. After her early years of child care with little personal attention for herself, it was wonderful to have someone for whom she “came first in everything.” Some of her memories of the library include times when young mothers would bring their children in and say, “Could I go down to the store for a minute? I’ll be right back.” One little boy, about two or three-years-old, decided that this nice white haired lady was his relative. He cried when forced to leave his “Grammy.“ It wasn’t long before the Children’s Library became an unofficial day care center and the practice had to be stopped. Another memory is of the one and a half-year-old child who went exploring. His mother and Mrs. Moody searched everywhere and were about to call the police when they heard the youngster crying. He had crawled, out of sight, into the far corner of the craft closet and played quietly until he needed his mom. Happier memories are of the children who asked, “Where’s Mrs. Moody?” when she was out for a day or two. And of the youngsters who brought her brought her pictures they had drawn, little things they found or other small gifts. “It shows they were thinking of me away from the library and that makes me feel good,” she says. The caring went both ways. Rich or poor, large or small, Mrs. Moody loved them all. She worked on the theory that when you show that you like them and really care, the affection will be returned. When the children weren’t obeying to their parents, she would draw upon her years of experience with her own brothers and sisters, call them over and whisper into their ears. “I can’t remember anyone that ever gave me a hard time,” she says. A highlight of her career as Children’s Librarian was a “beautiful letter” from Barbara Bush. Lois’s sister Laura had written to the then first lady describing the way youngsters stood on a footstool giving book reports in 80 to 85 degree temperatures during the summer reading programs. Mrs. Bush praised Mrs. Moody for keeping up the program despite the heat. Those book reports were a treat for Mrs. Moody. It amused her how well the children would tell the first half of the story. Then they would lose track of the narrative and make up some of the rest. She never corrected them. She could tell they had really read the books. Besides, “If you correct some of them, they wouldn’t come back.” “I’m going to miss working at the library. I became attached to the mothers and children. I loved them all.” She isn’t going to miss the attention she sometimes got from the media. “I didn’t like it when they came to take my picture all the time,“ she said. There were times when people felt that, “She’s the only librarian here. She’s the only one that gets into the papers.” Before the public reception on Friday the 19th, she said, “The idea of being the center of attention is killing me. I’d rather have not attention paid to me at all. ... A lot of people did much better than I did for the library.” Nevertheless, Mrs. Moody did attend and was pleased to see everyone.
LATEST NEWS
|