Former San Benito County Librarian Jo Wahdan, who shepherded the library through tough economic times and put together a team of volunteers to keep it running, died June 1 in Roseville at the age of 78. Her funeral will be held Friday, June 12 at 1 p.m. at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road in Dixon.
A reception will be held after the funeral — starting between 4 and 5 p.m. — at the Darna restaurant 925 K St., in Sacramento, Wahdan’s friend, Ruth Erickson told BenitoLink.
“She inspired many kids with her volunteer work,” the Friends of the San Benito County Library posted on its Facebook page. “Camping trips she led, the car washes for fundraising for trips out of town …remember the calendars featuring the kids’ art works? She wanted to help the library reach the entire community.”
Wahdan was named the county’s second certified county librarian in June 1979 and served more than a quarter century, retiring in November 2004. During her tenure, library services expanded, with the addition of a children’s story hour, adult reference services, and a Spanish language and California and local history collections. A year after her hiring, the Friends of the San Benito County Free Library was organized as a development and advocacy resource.
In 1992, when the library experienced a significant decrease in funding, Wahdan recruited volunteers to keep it open. The first computers were installed a year later.
Wahdan, who is survived by two daughters, is recalled on the library’s website as a person who “brought the joy of reading to thousands. She wanted equal access to the library for all the people in the community.” She was also praised for the development of Spanish- and Japanese-language materials and revitalization of the childrens’ collection.
“There was nothing like getting kids excited when they come in and see new books,” she once said.
In lieu of flowers, Wahdan’s family is asking that donations be made in her honor to the Friends of the San Benito County Library or the Youth Alliance.