I’ve been dreading this day, Jean Holste’s last day at the Humboldt Public Library. To me, and to all the children who have grown up in this town, Jean IS the library. Toddlers who encounter her at the grocery store are confused and surprised to learn that she even exists outside this building. They must think we close her up in here when we go home and night and she only comes alive when the first kiddies enter the building the next morning.

When my predecessor left, Jean jumped in and kept the library afloat until I was hired. She could have kept the director’s job, but her heart wasn’t in it. She knew that kids and stories and books were her calling, the right fit for her. She did, however, train me. She patiently answered each and every one of my questions without making me feel as if I were a preschooler asking why the sky is blue.

Jean’s programs for children are so successful that she routinely has had attendance of more than 5,000 per year. We both know that there are nowhere near 5,000 kids in Humboldt. She is so good at her job that each and every one of them comes many times per year. One summer she planned to hold a class on rock painting. What parent doesn’t have a rock painted smeary blue and red by a child in Bible school? I bit my tongue, but I thought it was a stupid idea. Kids and parents know that Jean’s programs are always fun; so many kids signed up to paint rocks that she had to hold a second session. With the help of some artsy community volunteers, Jean’s kids produced rocks that looked like VW Bugs, lady bugs, butterflies, daisies, turtles and a host of other creative ideas.

After that, I learned to trust her judgment. When it comes to kids, parents, songs, games, books and libraries, Jean really does know best. Co-worker Kathy Hensch summed up Jean’s library career with the following little story:



Once upon a time there was a very kind, very wise, and very clever lady. This lady loved children, and she loved books. She became a librarian so that she could share her love of books with children.

She read to them, taught them silly songs, and played games with them!
Teachers and parents loved her too, because she taught their children
to appreciate books and the importance of reading.

The librarian showed the children how to be creative, and use their imaginations. She planned day and night, so that she could make the books come alive for the children!

The librarian loved her books as much as she loved the children. She treated them with such care, keeping the books dusted and the shelves tidy. She bought new books to add to the shelves, and found homes for the
books that had been well read.

Others who worked at the library respected and loved her too, and were very sad when one day she told them it was time to begin a new chapter in her life. They were sad to see her go, but they were very happy for her too! They knew that she had many special plans for traveling, spending time with her family, tending her flower garden, and so many things she had dreamed of doing.

Her library family gave her hugs, shed some tears, and bid her a fond farewell. And so the very kind, very wise, very clever lady added many more wonderful chapters to her story, and lived happily ever after!


Jean, on behalf of every child whose life you have touched in your 23 years at the library, thank you.