Phoenixville Library honors former children's librarian Joan McIntyre

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, the Phoenixville Public Library held a dedication ceremony to celebrate the work of former Children’s Librarian, Joan McIntyre who worked at the library for 17 years. The brief ceremony allowed members of the community to honor the memory of their beloved librarian and introduce the McIntyre Outreach Program, a plan to help bring literacy to young children all across Phoenixville.

The heartwarming tribute brought friends, family and people in the community, many of whom, at one point or another, attended one of Joan’s frequent and very popular book readings. After earning two Masters Degrees, Joan began to work at the library in 1980 and remained there through 1997. It was one of her goals to see every child in the area have the opportunity to understand about the importance of reading and to have the necessary tools in order to facilitate learning. According to Susan Mostek, Director of Development at the library, the program focuses on early literacy within preschools around the area, especially those with “limited funding or access to professional storytellers.”

Included in the ceremony was the dedication of a plaque, set to hang inside the library. On it reads a quotation from Joan herself: “The expression of love in a child’s face is its own reward.” And, according to those who knew her the best, this was Joan’s approach throughout her many years at the Phoenixville Library. According to the Library’s Executive Director, John Kelley, who worked with Joan, “Joan looked for goodness in every child. Our job was to find that goodness and let it shine.”

Guests who attended the event had the pleasure of hearing the Owen J. Roberts concert choir sing “Homeward Bound.” Shelia McIntyre, director of the choir and Joan’s daughter, led the small group on piano. Included in the attendees were Eileen and Jerry Spinelli, writers who knew Joan very well. In Eileen’s children’s book When Mama Comes Home Tonight, the dedication reads, “To Joan McIntyre and the staff and friends of Phoenixville Library.” “She was great for kids,” Eileen says, “She was supportive of the young writers in the community.”

The McIntyre Outreach Program includes different ways to get young children excited about reading. Over the last few months, the program has received $800 in donations from the community and a $500 mini-grant from the Phoenixville Community Education Foundation. The Library was also the winner of the Kiwanis Youth Service Award in the form of a $1000 donation. With the help of these donations, the Library already has plans underway, including a library cart filed with hardcover children’s books and puppets that will travel to local preschools and daycares. It is what current Children’s Librarian Sandra Giannella calls a “traveling show.” The program also funds and includes book “sacks” that contain CDs, books and instructions on how to further the program. They are available to check out at the library and can be checked out for a whole month.

“This is exactly what my mom was trying to work for,” says Joan’s daughter, Kathleen McIntyre, who attended the event. Andrew McIntyre, Joan’s only son was greatly honored to see Joan’s program come together with so much support, “I’d like to thank the Library and city of Phoenixville who made an effort to keep her memory going. My mother dedicated 17 years to the children of Phoenixville and it’s nice to see it keep going.”