In Memoriam: Pat King

In Memoriam: Pat King

Burbank Library: Jan 2020 by Bonnie Yee

The Library recently learned that former Burbank Literacy library clerk and union steward, Pat King, has died.  She had been in the hospital for pneumonia earlier last week and was doing well, so had gone home. She was 77. ​Pat was known for her deep devotion to Literacy clients and workers’ rights and was a strong advocate for the library. She was Literacy Clerk from the beginning of the program in 1992 until she retired in July 2012. Pat will be missed.​

Burbank Public Library Literacy - first group of tutors, 1992:

Anahid Haroutounian, Lee Harner, Pat King (Clerk), Patricia Smart (Coor.),

Millie Engel, Donna Tramell and Susan Spears

Carlsbad Library ◯ Remembering Lynda L. Jones

Remembering Lynda L. Jones

Learning Connection: Sep/Oct 2019

With sadness, I share the news that retired Senior Librarian Lynda Jones passed away earlier this month. Lynda established our original Adult Literacy Program and, together with Director Cliff Lange and Assistant Director Geoff Armour, conceived of and launched the Centro de Información.

Later, Lynda presented to Cliff the vision for combining these two programs into one lifelong learning concept which became the Library Learning Center.

Lynda Louise Jones October 4, 1947 - July 15, 2019

Legacy

Lynda L. Jones, age 72, of Oceanside, recently passed peacefully. Fourth generation Californian, born to Sid and Dorothy (Pierce) Jones, she and her sister, Debbie, enjoyed time at the beach. Lynda graduated with honors from the family alma mater, Occidental College. Later, she earned her Master's degree of Library Science at Simmons University. In Botswana, she worked at the Secondary School Library. She became the Founding Coordinator of the Adult Learning Program and the Centro de Informacin, after returning to California.  READ MORE >>

In Memoriam :: Jamie Watson :: 1948-2017 :: Literacy Coordinator, Santa Monica Library

Jamie Watson, 1948-2017: Civic volunteer, planning commissioner loved Torrance history

Daily Breeze: 1.24.2017 by Nick Green

A city resident for 54 years, Watson is believed to have died of natural causes at her house on Arlington Avenue in Old Torrance, authorities said.

Watson, the stepdaughter of the city’s first full-time municipal attorney, Stanley Remelmeyer, had served on a trio of volunteer commissions in the last two decades, including the Library and Environmental Quality commissions.

She was a former librarian with the Santa Monica Public Library system for 24 years before retiring in 2008.

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Celia Carroll, who worked with Watson at the Ocean Park Branch, remembered Watson as possessing a “well-furnished mind.”

“She excelled at library programming, beginning with her oversight of ‘Tuesdays with Books,’ one of the most successful book discussions in LA County,” Carroll said in an email. “As literacy coordinator, she was dedicated to drawing participants, both as tutors and students. At Ocean Park Branch, she created the most interesting programs out of local history, global personalities, and scholars. People flocked to her presentations.”  READ MORE @

In Memoriam :: Roberta Lauderdale Plaque Ceremony Altadena Library

Roberta Lauderdale Plaque Ceremony

January 16 :: 1 pm

Bob Lucas Memorial Branch Library and Literacy Center

Roberta J. Lauderdale was an Altadena Library Volunteer from 1991-1996 and worked as Literacy Coordinator of the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch Library and Literacy Center from 1996-2014. She was a champion for literacy and was a community advocate. Sadly, she passed away in September.

Please join us Friday, 1/16/15 for a plaque ceremony in Roberta's honor at 1:00PM at the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch Library and Literacy Center.

In Memoriam :: Steve Armstrong

Corona library employee, literacy booster dies
Press-Enterprise: 10.23.08 by Alicia Robinson

Corona lost a library worker, community volunteer and literacy booster Saturday when Steve Armstrong died of kidney cancer.

Mr. Armstrong, the library's support services division manager, was 50.

Originally from Pomona, Mr. Armstrong worked in Los Angeles County and Glendora libraries before moving to Corona in 2002.

He oversaw literacy and circulation services, worked to raise funds for the library foundation, and volunteered for the Relay for Life, library Director Julie Fredericksen said.

"He was just one of those people that everyone loved talking to," Fredericksen said. "He had a real curiosity about people."

Literacy as a tool: Library director finds niche in helping folks
Press Enterprise: July 1, 2005 by Jerry Soifer

Steve Armstrong, a former businessman-turned-librarian, knows about transformations. Armstrong has been a record-store assistant manager, a paint company accountant and a hospital accountant.

Then Armstrong took an interest in literacy, earning a bachelor's degree from the University of La Verne in 1990 and a master's degree two years later. Now, at 47, he's the director of special services for Corona Public Library. He oversees the literacy program, community liaison, outreach office, the heritage room and the library foundation.

He lives in Rancho Cucamonga with his two golden retrievers. "He's really found his niche," said John Zickefoose, Corona's community liaison at the library. "People think of libraries as books. We're far more than that. We're taking care of people. He's really good at that."

In Memoriam :: Mary Miller 1955-2008 Glendale Library

Mary Louise Miller 1955 - 2008

Legacy: 2008

Mary Miller, the Library’s Literacy Coordinator passed away this Saturday after a relatively short battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, two daughters and six beloved grandchildren. A service is planned for Sunday in Victorville.

Mary came to Glendale in 1996 from the San Bernardino County Library. Under Mary’s leadership the Glendale Library Literacy program grew and served the needs of our changing community. She started a Family Reading Program that targeted adult literacy learners with small children.

She helped develop literacy partnerships with local public schools, and businesses such as hospitals, restaurants and convalescent homes. Wherever Mary found a need for adult literacy she found a way for the Library to help.

Mary’s reach went beyond the Library. She was a GCEA Representative who was an active participant for Relay for Life and the Community Alliance Committee. She was a past president of the Glendale Community Coordinating Council. She also served on the Executive Board of the Workforce Investment Board and chaired its Resource Mapping Committee.

Mary was active in the State Library’s California Library Literacy Services organization as well as the Southern California Library Literacy Network. She was recognized as a top “trainer of trainers” in her field, and in 2004, she was the only literacy professional selected from Los Angeles County as a MEDALS Fellow, funded by the S. Mark Taper Foundation.

In this program Mary traveled around the United States observing innovative literacy programs. As a result of that experience she developed workshops for many California literacy providers and incorporated innovative ideas into the Glendale Library program.

The benefits of Mary’s hard work are easy to see in the numbers of volunteers and students that participate in the Literacy program. There are many success stories of Mary’s Literacy program changing lives by giving people the ability to read.read.

Mary will be dearly missed by her family, by Library and City staff, and by the Glendale community who came to know her as a fun-loving, energetic, and passionate leader for literacy, reading and the Library.

In Lieu of Flowers

The family has asked that donations be made to the Glendale Public Library Literacy Program. Checks payable to the Friends of the Glendale Public Library. Donations should indicate that they are intended for the Mary Miller Literacy Fund.