Grace Grady was a longtime Washington County librarian at the Marine Branch Library. She held the nickname "Bookie" for her love of books and reading, and for getting others to love reading and books, too. She believed very early on in "Library 2.0," or the "modern library." A bowl of M&M's on the reference desk was a standard, as was music playing in the library for the youngest patrons. She also had a sign on the wall that read "Absolutely NO Silence." And when it came to book suggestions Grace was very good: she even coordinated the collection development of the Washington County Library system for several years.
Librarian Grace Grady is also the inspiration for Grace the Librarian on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion radio variety show.
On the Prairie Home pages of Public Radio (http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/), Mr. Keillor received a question about Lake Wobegon: "...It occurred to me that I have never heard of a town library or librarian there. Does the Lake Wobegon have a library?" Keillor answers: "The librarian's name is Grace, and the library is housed in the town hall. As a matter of fact, it's based on the one in Marine..., where the amazing and resourceful Grace Grady was the librarian."
These quotes, taken from a New York Post article dated Nov 30, 2008, help to describe Grace's work ethic: "The library is a thriving institution in Lake Wobegon," drawls Garrison Keillor. "Grace is an ambitious librarian. She stocks the auto-repair manuals, DVDs and murder mysteries, things librarians are often forced to do, but she's always pushing history, poetry and serious fiction, with some success."
Grace's dedication, love of books and the community she served, has remained in the hearts and minds of many Washington County residents. She created a legacy we hope to live up to and to honor by giving our patrons the resources to help them keep finding good books they enjoy reading.
And remember, your local branch librarians are "Bookies" at heart, too, so keep asking us for good reads!
