PEOPLE
Pauline Hibbert P
auline was born in Toronto, Canada, where her family had relocated to escape the racism that had stalled her Jamaican father’s UK career as an engineer, and was raised by her mother in London, UK. Her first degree in 1994 was a BA in Art and Design at Camberwell College of Arts. This picture is her last self-portrait. Pauline began her library career as an Assistant at North Kensing- ton Library in 1997 and gained a postgraduate librarianship diploma from UCL in 2002. In
2004 she was appointed a Children’s and Young Peoples Services Librarian in Lambeth. She married Aran Lewis, also a Lambeth library worker, in 2009.
Pauline took redundancy from Lambeth in a restructure in 2013, intending to hone her art skills during a short break from work, but her plans were cruelly interrupted by a diagnosis of breast cancer. The brilliant oncology team at St Georges Hospital in Tooting put the disease into remission with several months of debilitating chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.
Just as she was beginning to relax and enjoy life again a different cancer was detected and she embarked with her indefatigable grace and courage on another round of toxic, but thankfully successful treatment. Her journey back to work took her from volunteering at Wandsworth Librar- ies via a school library in Tower Hamlets to Westminster Libraries.
Pauline was a dedicated librarian who believed that pub- lic libraries could change people’s lives and be places for everyone. She organised popular events on diverse themes including Halloween, crafts and poetry, putting her heart and soul into every one. Skilled at running projects such as the Summer Reading Challenge, Premier League Reading Stars and Wriggle and Rhymes, her dedication to ensuring the development of a love of books was exemplary. She was a core member of Book of the Week, an online book group that started during lockdown, providing weekly sessions to those facing social isolation. She delivered the sessions she led with passion and in-depth knowledge and she was often able to relate to themes and issues in the stories which made the sessions even more engaging. Her skill at creating partnerships helped to raise income and her work managing volunteers expanded library services. Always friendly and welcoming to customers and highly knowledgeable when answering their queries, she connected well with parents and children, encouraging learning and enjoyment in the library. Pauline was a natural with children of all ages who were drawn to her spirit and energy.
Pauline was always immaculate and stylish. Her energy and sense of humour were contagious. She brought laugh- ter and friendliness to every part of the library. She was one of those rare gems who made the workplace better and fairer. She was always eager to participate and never let disability get in the way.
One colleague recalls: “In 2021, we hosted a stand on behalf of Pimlico Library at the Churchill Gardens festi- val. We met customers and council colleagues, the mayor, promoted the library, joined up new members, and Pauline got to bop away to African drumming music as well as songs performed by the band Out of the Blue. “We shared an interest in art and saw several exhibitions. She made the most of each visit and afterwards would select books from gallery shops to take away for further study. Pauline was an artist and had studied at Camber- well. It was a pleasure to see her work when she exhibited a portrait at the Chelsea Art Society Summer Exhibition, held in Chelsea Town Hall.
“The Van Gogh exhibition in Tate Britain in 2019 includ- ed works by other artists who were inspired by Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Pauline was particularly taken with his Self Portrait (1889) and spent several minutes sitting in con- templation. She took the positive from an experience and had an appetite for life.”
The return of breast cancer in 2021 with a terminal diagnosis was a devastating blow, but Pauline worked as a librarian and supported colleagues in her role as a Unite rep for as long as she could before taking early retirement. She was preparing for her first solo art exhibition when the disease advanced so far that treatment was no longer possible. She passed away before the preparations could be completed but with generous support from WCC and RBKC her work was shown at Victoria and Chelsea librar- ies as a posthumous tribute and very well received. Pauline took pride in her tireless commitment to work and public service. Her love of libraries and her cheerful energy in the face of disability and poor health were an inspiration to many, from colleagues to the children who crowded into Carnegie Library in Herne Hill for her weekly storytime sessions, almost the only time the branch was busy. She is greatly missed.
Aran Lewis, husband
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September 2023 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 49
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