Blog

Many of you have felt a conspicuous absence among the 4th floor staff lately.

In fact, our dear colleague and friend Steven Giese died last month.

Steven was a Reference librarian here for many years.

He was a gifted researcher, but more importantly, Steven was infinitely kind and patient.

Not only did patrons receive the information they wanted, Steven had a way about him that made people feel respected. 

He made people feel that they belonged.

Have any of you checked out our fabulous digital collections on Des Plaines Memory?  Then you know Steven too. 

Starting in 2008 with the clunkiest software known to man, Steven build Des Plaines Memory from the ground up. 

He curated thousands of photos, videos, newspapers, yearbooks, and other memorabilia about Des Plaines, and wrote the metadata that allows anyone in the world to search for these treasures. 

The monthly Des Plaines Memory Newsletter has thousands of loyal subscribers.

In fact, the Illinois Library Association honored him in 2021 with the Reference Librarian of the Year award for his superb work, and for his leadership in teaching other libraries to build their own digital collections.

All of us here have our own “Steven stories”. 

Personally, mine revolve around his wicked sense of humor. 

He was a serious man who used humor to understand the world and to understand himself, as he was often the target of his own droll observations. 

His family reports that he was funny right up to the end of his life. 

Of course he was.  He was Steven.

In anticipation of his death, Steven asked friends to contribute to The Trevor Project  

Or you can check out his masterpiece on Des Plaines Memory. 

On behalf of the staff of the Des Plaines Public Library, I can say assuredly that one of our favorite Des Plaines memories will be of this beautiful, beautiful human being.

Jo Bonell
Director
Des Plaines Public Library