Sharon Brewer is remarkable. She is close to completing her 30^th year with the Washington State Library and she has the dubious distinction of having worked in more branches than anyone in WSL history.

She began her WSL career in 1982 at the Special Offenders Center in Monroe, and then moved on in 1983 to the Fircrest School in Shoreline for one month. Her next move was to Rainier School in Buckley where she stayed until 1992. Sharon then she moved on to Western State Hospital in Steilacoom where she stayed nine years before returning to Rainier School for one year. From there Sharon changed course and joined the Procurement Team at WSL in Tumwater for two years. But the call of the branches was too strong and her next move was to the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton where she stayed for over three years. Never one to turn down a challenge, Sharon moved from Institutional Library Services branches to work in an Olympia Area Branch when she accepted her new position at the Natural Resources Building Library in 2007. Another move in 2009 landed Sharon in her sixth ILS branch, the Twin Rivers Corrections Center in Monroe. I’m happy to report that as of the beginning of this month Sharon is back at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton where we hope she will settle down for awhile!

Branch Library Services Program Manager Laura Sherbo says, “Sharon’s quiet, unassuming demeanor masks a keen intelligence and a fierce dedication to customer service.” Laura describes the ease with which Sharon mastered each new challenge over the years as a great asset to the Branch Library Services Program and to the Washington State Library.

Thanks, Sharon, for your dedication to serving those who are institutionalized.