Dear Friends,
I was made aware of some very sad news last week; Pam Gormley, Director of Skidompha Library, had passed. My heart and condolences are with Pam’s family at this time, and I wish them peace and healing in the days to come.
I was initially introduced to Pam digitally when I began researching Skidompha prior to my interview for employment. I remember pausing in astonishment after a brief review. Skidompha was honored in 2008 with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor awarded to libraries. Traffic and circulation numbers were higher than any I had during my work in New York. There was a used book shop associated with the library. Programming was frequent and creative, with excellent attendance. It was obvious Pam was a library leader with a dedication to excellence and a profound love of community, and I confess I felt slightly intimidated coming in as the second act.
Pam met me on my first day of work, and over the course of the next four weeks she held my hand and gently, patiently, taught me how Skidompha operated. During that time, I learned about contacts, billing procedures, facility issues, scheduling, ordering and so many other things, but it was the passion of Pam’s love for Skidompha and the community that I found most profound. Pam believed in the transformational power of libraries and created in Skidompha a place where people were warmly welcomed, and could learn, laugh, explore, and come together. If you have used Skidompha in any way, you have seen first-hand a tangible expression of that love for people and community.
Pam and I have not crossed paths recently, but I will always remember her, and I will continue to be inspired by her every day I walk through Skidompha’s doors.
Please stop in during regular library hours to sign our memory book and fill it with favorite stories about Pam. The memory book is on the credenza outside of Porter Hall, a space where Pam was often seen welcoming our community into the library.
Be well,
Matthew
Matthew Graff
Executive Director
Skidompha Public Library
I’ve collected a couple of quotes about Pam from Karen Filler, Janice Lindsay, and Rem Briggs. I echo their sentiments:
Pam was a special person – she was smart, eloquent, had a terrific sense of humor and a heart of gold. She made Skidompha a community hub and welcomed all. She advocated for literacy, expanded services and fostered the highest standards. She was always there for the teens, offering them a safe haven in the library, and staying late with them if a parent was late for pick up. She was all about people and the community. It was my honor to be her friend.
Karen Filler
As the director of the Skidompha Library, Pam displayed both vision and perseverance. Nowhere was this more evident than her decision, in the face of some hesitation by the book shop volunteers, to move the Secondhand Book Shop to its present location on Backstreet Landing. This move ensured that the Book Shop would continue to be a significant fundraiser for the library.
Rem Briggs
Those of us who had the good fortune to work with Pam have much to be thankful for. Others can describe her open, generous, and optimistic spirit better than I can. But some of us have a very special reason to be grateful. Back in 2017, it was Pam’s idea for the library to start a ukulele group. There would be no Skidompha Strummers without her. The lives of us Strummers are richer for it, and we like to think we add a little richness to life at the library as well.
Janice Lindsay