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Congratulations to the Three Newest Inductees
to the MLA Hall of Fame!
Anne M. O'Brien, Christine Kardokas, Joseph Hopkins
 
Anne O'Brien

Katie Baxter, MLA President and Ellen Rainville, MLA Public Relations Committee Member, MLA Past President, and Director at the J.V. Fletcher Library in Westford Chair made the   joint presentation to Anne O'Brien

Anne began her career as a school librarian and then served at the Memorial Hall Library in Andover and as director of the Pollard Library in Lowell.   She later became Director of the Snow Library in Orleans and served until her retirement.   After she retired she continued her strong interest in libraries by joining the Harwichport Library Trustees.   Anne also served as MLA President as well as President of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium.

Among the many glowing remarks made about Anne in the nomination process, one letter noted that Anne was a thoughtful and generous mentor, lending insight and valuable time to emerging leaders and that she inspired a cohort of advocates.   Anne worked hard to obtain funding for all types of libraries, to increase salaries of library staffs, searched for alternative paths to the MLS degree, and promoted libraries to the public. read more

Christine Kardokas

Katie Baxter, MLA President and Carolyn Noah, MLA Past President, and Administrator of the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System made the   joint presentation to Chris Kardokas

Chris is also a former MLA President as well as a NELA President.   She served in these positions energetically, enthusiastically, and creatively.   In an earlier role as MLA Membership Chair she brought our membership to 1,000 after the effects of Proposition 2 ½ caused it to plummet.   She served as Conference Committee Chair and did everything she could to inject fun into the organization.  

Chris was involved in founding MLA's grassroots legislative advocacy efforts and always made a strong personal efforts to advocate.

Chris is known as a mentor.   She actively encouraged staff at the Worcester Public Library to attend MLA conferences and serve on committees.   She also worked with others to make them feel welcome and important parts of the library community
Joseph Hopkins

Katie Baxter, MLA President and John Arnold, Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners made a joint presentation to Joseph Hopkins

Joseph Hopkins' contributions span decades of dedicated service and leadership.   One of his nominators pointed out Joe's official leadership roles as President of MLA, Director of the Watertown and Worcester Public Libraries, and Chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and that he was an important participant in the founding of the CW/MARS library network.

Joe's activities also include presentations at MLA, NELA, and NELINET conferences as well as Simmons GSLIS Alumni Days.   He served on a huge number of state, regional, and national committees and boards to support libraries throughout his career.   He has been described as a champion library advocate, astute, subtle, honorable, sometimes wily, and always, with our greater good in mind.

Joe was nominated by two individuals.   His other nominator noted that Joe has been a mentor to librarians throughout the Commonwealth and his commitment to libraries is strong 14 years after his retirement.

John Arnold added entertaining highlights of his experience working with Joe when he was the lone librarians serving as an MBLC Commissioner. read more

 


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