Mary B. with the "Book Ends" Memory Quilt I made for her. It is now filled with autographs and messages of gratitude and encouragement.
Read more about the Making of the Quilt.
It is with sadness that we bid Mary Bayorgeon farewell on April 30, 2007.
In a recent re-organization of Affinity Health System, Mary's position was eliminated. She has been Library Director based at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, WI, for nearly 35 years.
She has been a wonderful mentor, and Library Leader throughout her career. She has designed and built 2 Hospital Libraries (St. Elizabeth Hospital and Mercy Medical Center), and 3 consumer health libraries. In 2004, she was elected Wisconsin Health Science Librarian of the Year by her professional peers.
One physician recently said that Mary has saved the lives of his patients over the years by the information she has provided him over the years. Our work makes a difference!
When the job at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh became available in 1999, I jumped at the chance to work with such a Leader for Wisconsin Libraries. I am honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to work with Mary for the last 9 years. I've learned so much under her guidance, I can't even begin to list the lessons learned here ...
Mary states this is not a retirement. She will continue to advocate for ALL types of libraries in her 3rd-term appointment to COLAND, a committee that advises the Governor of Wisconsin on Library Issues for the State.
Farewell, Mary. You have made a difference! Thank you.
Mary Bayorgeon in 2004 as WHSLA Librarian of the Year.
