BURRILLVILLE – The head of circulation at Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library has been named the Rhode Island Library Association’s Outstanding Library Paraprofessional of the Year.
Mary Skaba has worked at the library since 1987 and currently supervises a staff of seven, overseeing collections and cataloging.
According to the RILA website, the award recognizes a library staff member in a non-degreed support position who has made a significant contribution to the library work environment and/or libraries in Rhode Island. The award winner must excel in their area of expertise, plan and implement innovative and effective library programming or services, and increases public knowledge and understanding of library resources, among other criteria.
The Town Council recognized the honor with a proclamation at their meeting on Wednesday, June 13.
“Mary Skaba was instrumental in bringing the Jesse M. Smith library into the Ocean State Library Consortium,” read Council President John Pacheco. As part of the task, Skaba coordinated the addition of the collection into the library’s online catalog
Pacheco noted that Skaba was a “critical member of the team” that moved the library from the Carlton Brown Building to its current 24,000 square foot location at Stillwater Mill Center, and is a “a trusted and valued member of the staff.”
Skaba has been an active member of the Ocean State Library Circulation Heads and Database Maintenance groups and was a statewide trainer when it transitioned into the Millennium Integrated Library System.
“We, the Town Council, join the library community in congratulating her on her award,” said Pacheco.
