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SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News
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he flowers growing east of the
walkway into the Bloomfield
Township Public Library come in
many varieties and colors — red
for those who appreciate vibrancy, beige for
those who like subtlety, lavender for those
in the middle.
But just like the books inside that
mustn't be judged by their covers, the
plants outside shouldn't be judged strictly
by their petals. The blooms, too, have
deeper meanings.
Identified by a small sign that says
"Linda's Garden," the flora flanking the
path pay tribute to Linda Lawson Herbst,
who helped plant ideas in the minds of
people who visited the library over the
past two decades.
Family and friends wanted to make an
enduring gift to recognize and remember
her ever-blossoming work as a reference
librarian, and so they dedicated the gar-
den this spring, just months after her
death at age 51.
"Linda always made people feel welcome
when they came to the library, and now
Linda's Garden also will welcome them,"
says Karen Carter, director of the library at
1099 Lone Pine Road. "It's a very appropri-
ate remembrance for a very warm person."
During Herbst's tenure, libraries became
increasingly computerized, and she mastered
and taught the skills necessary to provide
patrons with the latest and most complete
information. She specialized in medical
research, and that knowledge unfortunately
entered her personal life in a desperate way.
During her last years, Herbst combed the
Internet, seeking up-to-the-minute treat-
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As an enduring gift to the
memory of beloved librarian
Linda Lawson Herbst, family
and friends dedicated a gar-
den outside Bloomfield
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Township Public Library.
7/9
1999
Detroit Jewish News 32