By Jillian Poland
Margaret “Peg” Snyder, access service librarian for the Henry Whittemore Library, died early last week at the age of 55.
Snyder began working for the library in July 2001. During the course of her time at FSU, she oversaw the department through its renovation and participated in a pilot project as the first embedded librarian in Blackboard courses, said Bonnie Mitchell, library director.
Snyder was the first librarian to serve as the liaison to Copyright Clearance Center on copyright issues related to print and electronic reserves, according to Mitchell.
She received her bachelor’s degree in history from Fitchburg State University. In 2001, she earned a master’s degree in library and information science from Simmons. In 2005, she received tenure and completed coursework toward her second master’s degree in history, according to Mitchell.
Lori Wolfe, access services supervisor, worked with Snyder in the library. “Peg was a great librarian. She was intelligent and relentless in her pursuit to find answers for all of our patrons. She had a quick wit and while she took the job seriously, she never took herself too seriously,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe particularly recalled Snyder’s close relationship with the library’s student workers. “She loved watching them grow and succeed. ... She always celebrated their successes along the way and was more than willing to write a recommendation to help them land their first job.
“She loved when former students checked in and was always happy to hear about how their lives were going,” Wolfe added.
Senior Cindy Nelson, who has worked in the library since her freshman year, said, “Peg encouraged us new hires to ask questions and to seek help, because that was how we would learn. She made us all feel so welcome with her kind, funny and compassionate personality.”
Senior Sophie Gillespie worked as a circulation desk assistant for four years. She recalled Snyder’s warm and open personality.
“Her office door was habitually open, welcoming in students and faculty for absolutely anything they needed, whether it was a quick question or a long chat. Just as important, Peg never failed to bring in Snyder’s Pretzels for meetings while lightly giggling at the fact that Snyder is her last name,” Gillespie said.
Snyder’s humor was well appreciated by the library staff.
Mitchell remembered Snyder’s composure during the demolition and reconstruction of the circulation desk area in 2009. “We have some pictures of Peg in a hard hat and her sense of humor helped us all during the transition,” she said.
President F. Javier Cellavos said he was deeply saddened by Snyder’s passing.
He said, “Peg worked at Framingham State for more than 15 years and during that time,_ she became part of the fabric of our community. You cannot replace that once it’s gone, but I hope those who knew her can take comfort in the many happy memories they have of Peg’s time here.”