For almost a decade, Polly Armstrong has been the public services manager for Special Collections, and there is good reason why you’ll frequently find her name in the acknowledgments of many published books: Polly gives patrons outstanding public service. Thus, it is with mixed emotions that I announce Polly Armstrong’s retirement from SUL beginning April 3, 2013.

Polly began her career with Stanford Libraries as an archives specialist with the Hoover Institution Library and Archives in 1984. There she organized, restored, photographed, and encapsulated 68,000 posters. She joined the Jonsson Library of Government Documents in 1990 as a serials specialist until joining the Department of Special Collections in 1992 as a rare books specialist. Before becoming the public services manager, Polly helped to process some of our most popular collections including the papers of Huey Newton, Salo Baron, and Robert Creeley.

Prior to her coming to SUL, Polly worked as an archaeologist in both Virginia and California. She holds a B.S. in history and biology from Lewis and Clark College. I know all of us in Special Collections and University Archives will miss her many contributions to our department. It has been my extreme pleasure to work with Polly, and I greatly will miss her humor, reliability, and easy going nature.

Please join me in congratulating Polly and wishing her many safe and memorable travels. She will be off on a 5-week adventure overseas the day after she retires so details on a farewell gathering and keepsake for all to sign will be forthcoming.