On Sunday, January 10, at a tea given by the Friends, Jacquelyn Cooper, celebrated 25 years as Librarian at PPL Rochambeau. Joining the Friends in honoring Jackie were her husband, the Library Staff, other friends, and dignitaries. Words of congratulations and praise were offered by Dale Thompson, Library Director, and super library advocate Joan Ress Reeves. Citations were presented by City Councilwoman Rita Williams and State Senator Rhoda Perry. Sickness kept Mayor Buddy Cianci from being present, but he sent greetings and a gift to Jackie.
Friends President Rosemarie Dujardin expressed thanks to Jackie for her caring and friendly professionalism. Membership Chair Alice Oyer presented Jackie with gifts from the Friends -- a silver pin and Jackie's choice of books for Rochambeau.
A musical gift was given to Jackie by Ruth Saltzman on harp and Donna Hieken on flute. Their medley of Broadway and pop tunes added greatly to the festivities.
Refreshments were supplied by the Friends, as well as by Adam Marks and Martha Bebinger, Ruth Whitford, Julianne Dujardin, and Debra Blitz.
Thanks to "729 Hope St." for emergency supplies, and to servers Adrianna Ramirez and John Boe from the Feinstein Community Service Center at Johnson & Wales University.
The committee included Harriett Frank, Chair; Rosemarie Dujardin; Alice Oyer; Lois Beaty; Natalie Bowen; Maureen McCabe; Jeanne Birt; Barbara Feldman; Gloria Navascues; Violet Halpert; Judy Cardanha; Michael Fink; and Herman Rose.
The Friends of the Rochambeau Branch Library started during the tenure of Jacquelyn Cooper. She comes to our meetings with a "wish list" that we try to make come true -- for the benefit of those who have made this branch a personal resource. If you sit in the shade of a tree on a redwood settee in the front garden, you are drawing respite from the realm of Jackie Toy Cooper. The Hope Street-Summit Avenue neighborhood has changed over the years, but the Rochambeau Library has only gotten better, fuller, holding on to the best of the past and still moving forward -- thanks in large measure to Jackie's leadership, support, and charm.
The members of her staff claim Jackie as theirs. "Everything goes smoothly because of her," they confide. Where would our children, our elders, newcomers and old-timers, be without her guidance, reassurance, and smiling presence?
Jacquelyn came to us with an expertise in reference, an enthusiasm for theatre and music (having taught music in schools for seeral years), and a keen interest in the neighborhoods of our own Mount Hope, as well as Fox Point and Smith Hill. Under her hand, mind, and eye, our library ahs advanced with the technological world to include films, books on tape, and computers that welcome users of all levels of ability. This writer can do almost any obscure research with just the touch of a button on a keyboard and -- voila -- voices of the past and the present from any corner of the world will speak in print!
It is a pleasure and a privilege to sip a fancy tea in honor of the lovely and lively Jacquelyn Cooper, the queen of the little brick palace of books and learning and sharing. From the owls on the fireplace mantle to the murals depicted on the walls of the reading room; from every crowded nook, alcove, cranny, shelf, and table; from the little tables to the dignified armchairs; everything at Rochambeau proclaims a Cooper celebration. May we have another tea at the Jackie Jubilee! -- Mike Fink
If for books you are a'lookin'
Be it Shakespeare or on cookin'
See Jackie.
If the rarified air of the library there
Makes you tear out your hair,
See Jackie.
If research is your aim
And Wordsmith is your game,
See Jackie.
If you "ain't" a great grammarian,
Just ask this "neat" librarian
(Even if you're Irish or Hungarian),
See Jackie.
Twenty-five years of dedicated service.
Thank you, Jackie.
-- With appreciation, from two new Friends of Rochambeau -- Ken & Maris Hanson
Dear Friends,
Thank you so very much for the absolutely wonderful 25th anniversary party. I had such a good time visiting with everyone, enjoying the lovely music, delicious refreshments, and the "beautified" decor of (my favorite charity) the Rochambeau Branch of the Providence Public Library. I'll always treasure the kind words spoken about me, as well as the citations, pictures, gifts, and cards I received. The silver and lapis bar pin is wonderful to wear on a lapel -- The first day I wore it to work, I received many compliments about it. I am pleased to purchase $100 worth of books for Rochambeau and will let you know the titles I have chosen. It was so thoughtful of you to provide a guest book --I'm placing cards and pictures as well in the album.
Thank you very much to everyone who helped to make my 25th Anniversary so memorable! -- Sincerely, Jackie -- Jan 22, 1999