Hats off to Mike and Sue Austin, Ben and Kristy LaCrosse, and Steve and Carol Kostanich for their donations, resulting in the new sculpture located at the entrance to the grade schools in Chehalis.
I thought it was particularly fitting for Sue to be pictured in front of a young student with his head buried in a book.
Sue was a longtime librarian at Chehalis Middle School and everything one could ask of a middle school librarian. She welcomed the students to the library with open arms before school, at lunch time, and after school, making them feel comfortable being there.
Sue would help the kids find a book, taught how to use resources for research, and assisted with assignments.
Usually on a Friday, I took my sixth graders to the library in order to check out a book, return one, and have a few minutes to read. Sue also entertained the students for a few minutes with her “book talks.” She had three or four books to recommend, and she provided a brief synopsis of each without revealing too much of the story — just enough to set the hook.
Mrs. Austin had the perfect demeanor for her job; she was patient and kind, yet had certain expectations for behavior in her library without discouraging anyone from visiting.
I think if I look up “school librarian” in the dictionary, I will find a picture of Mrs. Austin.
Tom Zuber
Chehalis
