Jerome librarian touches the lives of her colleagues and students

This June, Jerome Library will lose one of its most energetic and resourceful librarians. After working as a subject librarian for 20 years, Mary Wrighten will retire.

In 1988, while Mary Wrighten was attending Wayne State University, she participated in a librarian internship at Jerome Library. After two years of interning she was hired as the diversity and multicultural librarian. Wrighten has been dedicated to the library and the students of the University ever since.

"When I started it was hard to connect with the undergrad students," Wrighten said. "Through the years I have been able to connect with students of multiple backgrounds."

Wrighten's mission for the library related to her job and responsibilities. She worked hard to build a multicultural section of the library. She also wanted to promote diversity awareness and work as a subject librarian for international, women and ethic studies.

"It has been very gratifying to connect with students of other cultures and make them feel welcome," Wrighten said.

Wrighten was a member of DryDock, a student group that provided non-alcoholic social events to help with getting students to socialize. She also served as an adviser for the Black Student Union.

"I try to be [as] active and supportive as I can," Wrighten said.

Maricelda Losoya-Rush, a library associate at Jerome for 22 years, said she and Wrighten were members of the Multicultural Affairs Committee. Wrighten participated in many panels and also made Jerome recognizable with the sources she had and the new ones she came across.

"She touched a lot of lives with this and with the students on campus," Rush said. "Mary is energetic and resourceful. She's a great multicultural librarian."

Chris Miko works in the same department as Wrighten and became close friends.

"She's been a great colleague, a real professional at everything she does," Miko said.

When Wrighten retires June 30, she plans to travel and be an active grandmother for her six grandchildren. She will also have more time to focus on gardening and cooking, as well as reading mystery books.

"The University library is going to be losing a great multicultural librarian and a great friend," Rush said.