Children’s Department Head Since 1998
Martha Simpson Day on February 5th
Final Day February 18th
The Stratford Library has announced that their Head of Children’s Services, Martha Simpson, will retire her position on February 18th. Simpson, who has worked at the Library since 1993 initially as a part-time employee with Children’s, Teen and Adult Services, was named Children’s Department Head in 1998 and has continued in that position since.
Martha Simpson received her BA in Communication Studies and English at the University of Massachusetts and her Master of Library Science degree at Southern Connecticut State University. Among her many honors are the Faith Hektoen Award from the Connecticut Library Association for creating Healing Library Kits, the Arthur Grant sponsored by WGHB-TV to start a monthly program for children with special needs and the Econo-Clad Literature Program Award for the Storycraft programs developed at the Stratford Library.
Simpson is also a published author of the picture books Esther’s Grogger, The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin and What Not to Give Your Mom on Mother’s Day. Her professional publications include Bringing Classes into the Public Library, Reading Programs for Young Adults, StoryCraft and Summer Reading Clubs.
Her numerous professional associations include the American Library Association & Association for Library Service to Children, Connecticut Library Association, Association of Jewish Libraries, Independent Book Publishers Association, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, The Author’s Guild and the Nutmeg Book Award Committee. She has also served on several professional committees including The Newbery Award, the Children’s Literacy Legacy Award and the Nutmeg Book Award. Simpson is currently chairing the Sydney Taylor Book Award.
At the Stratford Library this year’s annual “Take Your Child to the Library Day” on Saturday, February 5th will also be “Martha Simpson Day”. Visitors may wish Simpson well and there will be giveaways for children. To register for “Martha Simpson Day visit: https://stratfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/8674872.
According to Library Director Sheri Szymanski, Simpson will be greatly missed at the Library. “Martha Simpson has been an invaluable resource to our Library and the greater Stratford community”, she said. “We congratulate her on a well-earned retirement”.
