Do they catalog their pantries,
do they alphabetize the soup,
and make labels for the kitchen shelves
and arrange vegetables into groups?

Or perhaps it’s to the closets,
their attention they might turn…
and transform their wardrobe chaos
using skills they long ago learned.

No shirt will be uncatalogued,
No dress shall lack a space,
their undies, socks and ties will all,
have a Dewey inspired place.

Then of course there is the attic,
with items saved, set aside and hoarded,
the photos, knick-knacks, and sundries,
of course… must all be sorted.

But when these tasks are finished
and to leisure the bibliophile looks
The pot of gold, is their long amassed,
patiently awaited…
greatly anticipated…
glorious stack of unread books!

Lyla Brekke
Sept. 10, 2009

Sheryl, a long time employee with Washington State Library and the Twin Rivers Unit of the Monroe Correctional Complex is retiring. She will be leaving the the library after 15 years and 5 months with the inmates at Twin Rivers. Sheryl is a woman of amazing energy that has been put to use running the Twin Rivers library and teaching the inmates part time in the education department. Where she gets the energy I will never know. 

Her dedication to her work is amazing and she will be sorely missed by all of us in the Institutional Library community.