Library Director Katherin O'Neil poses with Amy Lafave and her cake.
LENOX, Mass. — Dozens gathered at the Lenox Library on Friday to celebrate Amy Lafave, the "archetype of a public servant."
Lafave, a lifelong town resident, has been with the library for 30 years and shares her expertise and passion for local history with the community. She has worked as the music librarian, library director, and most recently as the historical librarian, a position that seemed fated.
"Amy is the archetype of a public servant and by that I mean she is, to me, an aspirational model embodying wisdom, guidance, humor, and respect for events and persons that have gone before us all in the town of Lenox. I know that Amy deeply cares for this library and the town that we call home," Select Board member Marybeth Mitts said.
"Amy Lafave is a remarkable person. She turned her avocation into her vocation. After several years as the Lenox library director, her vocation, the town created the position of town historical librarian, and Amy's deep interest in history, her avocation, is now her current position."
Lafave was humbled and overwhelmed by the recognition on the 30th anniversary of her first day at the library.
"It's gratifying to feel so much love in the room, but I'm just doing my job," she said.
She stepped into her current role about five years ago, as it seemed much more fun than management. The library has a collection of archival materials sitting in boxes and needed someone to spearhead documentation and preservation efforts.
"You could tell that people were interested in learning about Lenox's history," Lafave explained.
Library Director Katherine O'Neil pointed to historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's phrase "Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History."
"As much as I am a fan of that quote, I think today we can point to an exceptional and yes, generally, well-behaved woman who has both made and preserved history here in Lenox," she said.
O'Neil said Lafave has brought many important community stories to life, including tales of the Curtis Hotel, presidential connections, town servicemen and -women, and "buildings being lifted from their foundations and moved to different locations, sometimes twice."
Lafave was awarded a grant in 2021 to inventory, preserve, rehouse, and create finding aids for the Kendall and Rockwell collections in the library's archives. She also secured a grant to preserve the 1774 Lenox Non-Importation Agreement signed by 111 Lenox men agreeing not to buy or sell British goods in the years leading up to the American Revolution.
"Amy also reminds us that today's present is tomorrow's past, from conducting Q&As with our town clerk before town meetings and elections to maintaining a resource page on the library's website for the Housatonic Rest of River Cleanup, she chronicles our experiences for future generations," O'Neil said.
"I am so pleased that today, on the 30th anniversary of Amy's first day at the Lenox Library, we can celebrate her contributions to our collective history. Thank you, Amy, for all that you've done and continue to do for our community."
Mitts read a proclamation from the Select Board naming April 4, 2025, "Amy Lafave Day."
She explained that in her current role, Lafave helped the Department of Public Works and Historical Commission develop a map noting several historically significant graves in the Church on the Hill cemetery and has curated several local history presentations.
"Amy has invited all of us on the board of selectmen to ring the library bell that used to call folks to town meeting from the library bell tower in our yesteryears. That's the hardest thing I've ever done on the board of selectmen," Mitts said.
"So thank you, Amy, for doing what you do best: bringing history to life."
During the celebration, musicians Tracy Wilson and Ron Ramsay sang "If You Knew Amy," a song Wilson wrote to the tune of Eddie Cantor's "Susie."
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