RELEASE DATE: December 28, 2009
Contact: Christine Perkins
(360) 778-7206
cperkins@cob.org
CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN TO RETIRE
Scott Blume, longtime Head of Children’s Services at the Bellingham Public Library, will retire December 31. An Open House will be held in his honor in the Children’s Library from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. that day. The public is invited to join staff and colleagues in wishing him well.
Blume is Bellingham Public Library’s tenth and longest serving children’s librarian, having worked for the library for 28 years. When Blume began managing the Children’s Library in 1982, the department circulated 146,000 items. This year, over 430,000 children’s items were checked out.
Blume is credited with inventing Bellingham Public Library’s mascots, Reader Raccoon and friends. He served as Chair of CAYAS, a committee of the Washington Library Association dedicated to Children’s Services. In 1985, he participated on the Newbery Award Committee of the American Library Association, and from 1996 to 1998 Blume served on the jury for the Washington Governor’s Writer’s Award.
Blume estimates that he has presented over 1,000 picturebook storytimes over the course of his career.
Library Director Pamela Kiesner will be the acting Head of Children’s Services beginning January 1 until City is able to hire a replacement.
###