Artist and Librarian, 1910-2002

Tribute from Library

It is with sadness that library staff and users note the passing last week of Betty Crawford. Miss Crawford was the librarian of Ingersoll Public Library from 1941 to 1972, the longest serving librarian in Ingersoll since the library began in 1854. She was associated with the Oxford County Library Association for those years, and, as she neared retirement, she guided Ingersoll Library to become a branch of the newly formed Oxford County Library.

Here is what the Ingersoll Tribune had to say about Miss Crawford in the 1960s:

For instance, in spite of all these awards and the fact that she is herself an artist of note, Miss Crawford still has time for everyone. She still will lay down an armful of books she was returning to the shelves to discuss a Peter Cottontail book with one of the youngest of members and she's never too busy to guide a young reader to a new section of books; or to help a high school student look up a reference book or suggest where material for a speech might be found. The senior citizen will get just as much attention when failing eyesight makes it a little difficult to locate some of the titles on worn books. The newcomer who has a whole new world of reading awaiting him and the veteran member who has difficulty finding a book she "hasn't" read all receive the same courteous and friendly treatment. But it isn't a "duty" kind of service that Miss Crawford hands out with her books. It is a warm friendliness, a sharing of books that are old friends or an invitation to the newcomer to meet them that makes her a very special librarian and the library a special place to visit.