Please excuse the duplication (originally posted on ACQNET-L)

I shared the SERIALST announcement on ACQNET-L yesterday and wanted to re-post my own remarks here since I realize some of us get both lists but not everyone does.

I also want to take the opportunity personally to echo much of what people have said elsewhere – realizing that some of you do read SERIALST and others do not.  I’ve known Birdie for almost my entire career and she started SERIALST about the time several other well-known listserves began – notably AUTOCAT and ACQNET-L – these were the pioneers of Internet discourse for technical services in the early days (COLLDEV-L came along not too long afterwards as did others).  I recall meeting Birdie for the 1^st time at a NASIG conference shortly after the initial launch of SERIALST and she was overwhelmed with the way people treated her like a rock star!   We were very curious about these new communication channels and how we could use them.   They were and still are for many of us a staple of our daily work.  Today we totally take them for granted, but there are people behind the scenes making them happen.  Birdie was one of them for many years.

 Birdie’s pioneering spirit was manifested in a quiet but friendly demeanor.  She was never boastful or proud, and only too willing to help others always. Other words her friends have used to describe her include laid-back, kind, gentle, but also enthusiastic, passionate and an early adopter and innovator.  Her mastery of the French language and contributions to US/Canadian and international relations was well known and well respected.  She had a lovely smile and a cheerful demeanor that belied her dedication to the causes she felt strongly about.  She was active in ALA, IFLA and NASIG and probably other associations but these are the ones I knew her through.

 I don’t pretend here to offer a comprehensive overview, I am strictly writing off-the-cuff in order to get this out to you all.  I know there are conversations happening in organizations that Birdie contributed to in order to find an appropriate way to honor her-  those conversations are just beginning as we try to process this sad news.  But I know she deserves recognition and feel sure we will figure something out.

 Information about arrangements will be shared when they are known, and if you were friends with her on Facebook, it is still up and the memories are flowing in, and there are also postings on SERIALST and the NASIG listserve if you are a member there.  (I plan to submit my remarks here also to SERIALST)

 Sadly yours,

Eleanor Cook

Eleanor I. Cook

Assistant Director for Discovery & Technology Services

Academic Library Services -- Joyner Library

East Carolina University

East Fifth Street

Greenville, NC 27858

252-328-2598

252-328-4834 fax

cooke@ecu.edu