Our hearts are heavy. Jay Rancourt, who was Library Director at Cook Memorial Library from 1999 to 2015, and for several years before that our children’s librarian, passed away on February 28 at her home in Madison. We all loved Jay as a friend, mentor, artist, poet, gardener, reader, and librarian. Jay’s creative and curious mind, and how she honored community and individual well-being, are models for our daily work and lives.
Jay’s impact on the Cook Memorial Library is felt each day as we work in this space. Jay ushered our library into the 21st century by working alongside many others to complete a major addition to the building, updating the library’s online presence, and making nurturing creativity and community building a priority. Jay applied her unique array of talents to her work, which continues to inspire and encourage library staff to do the same.
Please leave a reply to this post to share your tribute to Jay.