Joan believed in the importance of School Libraries for our students and worked tirelessly towards that goal. On her emails, she had a phrase that will always be identified with her:

"School libraries: student-centered, information-focused."

This last fall, we posted the autobiographies of all members of our Executive Board. Here is an excerpt from the autobiography that Joan wrote for us:

Many words have been used to describe Joan. She was a dedicated professional, and a feisty fighter, with a wry sense of humor. Joan may have lost her battle with pancreatic cancer, but her campaign to better the school libraries of Massachusetts will go on. Joan was a pioneer as she championed the needs of our school libraries by lobbying for legislation.

As the President of MSLMA, Joan often used the slogan, "If we all do a little, we can accomplish so much." Honor Joan's memory by continuing to make a difference in the lives of students. Do your part to improve school libraries in Massachusetts and beyond.

Rest in peace, Dear Friend
Ann Perham - March 2003

Dear Family and Friends of Joan Gallagher,

Please accept the deepest sympathy of the Cambridge College community. Joan was our friend, our teacher and our counsel. She is missed dearly.

Below is an e mail I sent to the Cambridge College community.

Joan Gallagher died Friday, March 7, 2003 succumbing to pancreatic cancer. Joan was senior faculty at Cambridge College. She taught Reference Resources in the school library teacher program. Joan was one of the group of four with Lynne Cohen, Ann Crogan and Joe Angelo whose counsel and support built the school library program from an idea in 1998 to its continuing success in 2003.

Joan brought to Cambridge College the same passion, pride, commitment and professionalism she exemplified in her public school career. Joan was a skilled and knowledgeable teacher, a tenacious political activist on behalf of school library teachers, a school administrative leader, a gentle woman and a valued friend. Joan was the consummate professional.

Joan became a school library teacher having been a public librarian. She served as library teacher at Quincy High School becoming coordinator of the school library program for the Cohasset Public Schools. Joan was the director of school libraries for the City of Somerville Public Schools when she became ill in April 2002.

Joan was past president of the Massachusetts School Library Media Association, and a member of the executive board. Joan led MSLMA with passion and commitment; doing so in a quiet, persuasive manner. She knew that Massachusetts is 49th of 50 states in support of school libraries and was determined to advance that status through legislative efforts.

Joan’s sister Monica writes, “Joan will be buried on Monday, March 10, 2003 at 11:00 from the Dolan Funeral Home 1140 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA. All family and friends are welcome.”

Via Con Dios, Joan. We will miss you.

Dr. Joseph W. Angelo, Coordinator: School Library Teacher Program

Reminiscence of Joan Gallagher
Speaking in front of large groups is not my forte so this is what I would have said a week ago today at Joan’s memorial service. Everyone remarks on Joan’s commitment, on her dogged determination to raise the status of school libraries in Somerville and across the state of Massachusetts. Joan Gallagher was my supervisor in Somerville for the last three years. Let me just say this. Living with that dogged determination was not easy! Everyday I arrive at school around 7:30am. Instead of the usual “Good Morning” my first words to Joan were, “Can I at least take my coat off first?” When she started putting an early morning muffin on my desk along with the six things to do before 9:00 o clock things got better.

Joan’s mind raced so fast she rarely finished a sentence. Sometimes she would switch topics in the middle; it was as though I had a senior moment and had missed 2 or 3 minutes of our discussion. As I got to know her style I could say, “Slow down, now what are you talking about?” In the middle of one bright idea she got another bright idea and she hardly realized that they both poured out together. Joan lived her life in fast forward. Still outside of work she knew how to take a moment and appreciate life. Her photography showed us that.

Such a fine woman. In a way, I envy all the people who knew Joan for a long time, but, through work and friendship, I shared her journey for these last few years in Somerville. What an exhilarating experience! It was clear Joan believed in the impact that a library has on the well rounded development of our children and everything she did reaffirmed that belief.

And more, with gentle tenacity Joan moved all of us to be our own best selves.

God welcome home her fiery Irish spirit.

Patricia Garrity
Somerville High School, March 17, 2003

Addendum

This is a reminiscence that I sent out to many of our school personnel who worked with Joan and I in Somerville. Working with Joan every day for two years and then this year being on the phone with her, taking direction about what's next in our department right up until March 1st. was a unique experience. We haven't touched a thing in her office yet. It is just as she left it when she went to the doctor for the first time last May. Her presence is still very much with us everyday. The office is still a mess and so are we.

Professor Joan Gallagher

As one of her students in the early days of Cambridge College's Library Media Program, I have been so saddened by the news of Joan Gallagher's passing. Joan taught a superb Reference course when I was a student at Cambridge College. As a teacher, she cut right to the chase, eschewing
lofty theories and grounding her curriculum firmly in the reality of what school Library Media Specialists face on a daily basis. Her course was invaluable and enjoyable at the same time. She was a gifted teacher. However her strengths went beyond the academic and the boundaries of the classroom. She seemed able to quickly establish a personal connection with everyone of her students, and was very sensitive to the pressures and strains of her "mature" students, juggling graduate work with jobs and families. I'm sure each of her students has a story to tell about her. I will never forget how encouraging she was to me when I graduated and embarked on a job search. As busy as she was at the time, juggling the demands of her own job, along with her teaching responsibilities, her commitment to the MSLMA, and, in particular her legislative efforts, she was more than willing to write an extended letter of reference for me. I will never forget the kind and comprehensive letter she prepared on my behalf, which I'm sure was influential in me obtaining my present position. So, speaking for myself, and, I'm sure, for all those who studied under Joan Gallagher, she will be sorely missed as a teacher, a colleague and a friend.

Gail Keene
Loring Library Media Center
Sudbury, MA
978 579 0870 ext. 1107

Please add my voice to honor Joan's memory. She embodied the vision, energy and determination to see that our voice was heard. We have lost an amazing spokesperson for libraries at all levels. I have purchased a book in her honor and will be placing in all of my libraries. It will contain a bookplate that says. "In memory of Joan Gallagher, a tireless leader for our school library."
Presented by Daniel Fleming, Library-Teacher


I had the good fortune of being interviewed by Joan for a position in Somerville. Although I did not get the job, Joan was very supportive, taking the time to write me a special letter, suggesting I apply again for another position. She even followed up the next year, checking to see if I had found anything. As a new specialist and recent "emigrant" to Boston, I very much appreciated her interest. I was shocked and saddened by her death- we will miss her. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share,

Betci Weldon
Teacher-Librarian
Elmwood and Hopkins Schools
Hopkinton, MA

I first met Joan at UMass Boston when we were the only library media specialists in the Educational Administration graduate program, so we gravitated towards each other. Especially since we both knew that School Library Director positions on the district-level were a dying breed in Massachusetts. However, several years later we ended up in two of the few positions of that type around the state.

When Joan became MSLMA president, and I was on the Board, her style of leadership became evident. Although very soft-spoken (we often had to remind her to speak up so we could hear her), Joan's message and passion came through loud and clear. She was the epitome of "speak softly and carry and big stick." Given where our legislative agenda is, especially given the state of the state, even the legislature heard Joan loud and clear. The greatest tribute MSLMA and school librarians can give to Joan is to continue the fight for recognition on the governmental level.

Shelly Glantz