By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — September Brooke spent 17 years welcoming users to Davidson’s library, guiding them through the services available and making them feel at home.

That legacy will live on in the form of a new hospitality room at the local library, named in memory of the longtime branch librarian.

The September Brooke Memorial Hospitality Room was dedicated Friday afternoon with a short ceremony.

A group of 50 people, including friends, family and former co-workers, filled the front rooms of the library. Several friends shared their memories of Brooke, including library board chairperson Audrey Hamm and Palliser Regional Library director Jan Smith, and refreshments were served.

The hospitality room was suggested by assistant librarian Debbie Shearwood as a way to honour Brooke, who died Jan. 10 at the age of 53 following a bout with cancer.

Shearwood, who worked alongside Brooke during her entire tenure, said she wanted a more permanent memorial than books, which would gradually become outdated and eventually be discarded.

She offered her proposal for the room at a board meeting earlier this year, where it met with an enthusiastic response.

“They thought it was a great idea,” she said. “They were behind it right from the get-go.”

For the full story, see the June 6 edition of The Davidson Leader, or phone 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.