It is with a heavy heart that I send news of the passing of Bernie Margolis, former director of the Monroe County Library System (MI), Pikes Peak Library District (CO), and the Boston Public Library. Bernie most recently served as the New York State Librarian. Bernie was the most passionate of library champions and served the American Library Association in many roles including that of ALA Councilman. Those of us who knew and worked with Bernie will remember his can-do attitude, his fierce defense of penal fines for public libraries in Michigan, and his vision for libraries of the future. Bernie's obituary has not yet been published, but his funeral will be at the Levine Funeral Home in Albany New York at 11 AM on Wednesday, April 18. Burial will be at about 1 PM at the Pittsfield Cemetery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bernie's wife, Amanda Batey Margolis. Nancy Nancy Bellaire Director Monroe County Library System 840 S. Roessler St. Monroe, MI 48161 734 241-5770