Sheila Herstein, a member of the City College Library Department for thirty-two years, died in August. During her long and distinguished career, she embodied the scholarship, constructive engagement and humane values which characterize all that is best in CUNY.

On her initial appointment in September 1964 Sheila worked in the Social Sciences Reading Room under the direction of Haig Ajamian. She also did acquisitions work, and headed the Reference Division for several years.

After the library moved to NAC in 1982, Sheila continued in reference, but took on new duties as Collection Development Coordinator. As bibliographer for the Reference Collection, and for History, Jewish Studies, and Women's Studies she built strong collections and was an eloquent advocate for library funding. Sheila's library service included terms on the department's Executive Committee and on numerous ad hoc committees. Her City College service included chairing the College Wide Resources Committee of the Faculty Senate, membership on the Senate Executive Committee and, in 1994, on the President's Long Range Planning Committee. She was also active in CUNY's Library Association.

Sheila received bachelor's and master's degree from Brooklyn College and her M.S. in Library Service from Columbia. In 1980 she was awarded the Ph.D. in history from the Graduate School and University Center; her dissertation was published by Yale University Press in 1985 under the title A Mid-Victorian Feminist: Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon. She was also a general editor of the World Bibliographical Series and published articles on Victorian feminism.

Always articulate, but never self-righteous, she insisted that helping students was our most important job, and that every reference interview could illuminate and inspire them. She was a colleague, friend, advisor and, confidante such as we shall not meet again.

Contributions may be made to the National Yiddish Book Center (48 Woodbridge Street, South Hadley, MA 01075).

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