Mary K. Spore Alhadef: Library Science

Mary K. Spore Alhadef, also known as “Molly the Librarian”, is a part of the Redwood City Public Library community. She began as an audio-visual librarian in 1978 when it was located across the street. About a month into the job, California voters approved Proposition 13, which significantly reduced property tax rates as well as funding for city services, including libraries, and Ms. Spore-Alhadef was laid off. At the time, she believed she may never work in a library again, however, she was rehired a couple of months later to run cataloging and technical services in a building that no longer exists. Soon after, she found herself running the audio/visual center and its collection of 8 mm and 16 mm films and about 10,000 LPs. Around 1988, when the library relocated to the building it’s in now, the video revolution was about the start. She spent 10 years cataloging audio recordings and worked at the reference desk for years. Most recently, she superintended the computer room.

Some of the most rewarding aspects of the job for Ms. Spore-Alhadef were assisting students with research projects and helping residents dig up information about their ancestors. She said she’d also often learn something new in the process, which was personally rewarding. Considered a local history aficionado, she was often found in the library’s local history archive room.

Ms. Spore-Alhadef has written articles in various publications about Redwood City, was featured in the 150th anniversary DVD on the history of the city, and wrote three chapters of “Redwood City: A Hometown History,” including “Saloons, Breweries and Bordellos.” Ms. Spore-Alhadef’s abilities were evident when a Korean television film crew flew across the Pacific to interview her about Korean pilots who trained in Redwood City in the early days of aviation. Among the information she discovered was an item from the 1921 Redwood City Standard reporting that a Korean pilot survived a plane crash at the Redwood City field.

Ms. Spore Alhadef prepared for her career by earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College in 1965 and a Master of Library Science from Peabody College in 1966. She then gained experience as the assistant director of libraries at Boston College, a librarian at the Weston College School of Theology and St. Patrick’s Seminary, and a reference librarian at the Graduate Theological Union Library. Ms. Spore Alhadef credits much of her success to her husband, a librarian, clergyman, and professor. She also praises her parents, who taught her the value of being economically self-sufficient, as well as Father Connelly, the director of libraries at Boston College. He wrote her recommendations for graduate school and offered her a job when she finished her education.

The early years of her career include library work at Boston College, Saint Patrick’s Seminary and Stanford University, as well as Redwood City. She also found time to become a labor activist, serving 15 years in Redwood City as the chief steward of the Service Employees International Union.