Known town-wide for her patience and helpfulness, Windham librarian Barbara Keef is now recognized on a larger scale after recently being awarded the Maine Library Association Outstanding Librarian of the Year.

“It’s a real honor,” said Keef, who is the technology services librarian. She manages the reference desk and people go to her with questions dealing with technology. “I’m pretty lucky to be able to do a job that I love to do, and getting recognized is great.”

The award was made public at a Nov. 16 meeting in Rockland of the Maine Library Association.

“She really does deserve that. I think she’s great,” said Bob Muir, a member of the town council and a regular at the library.

Windham Public Library Director Inese Gruber said the award reflects well on the library.

“The most important thing is this shows people in the community have been served well by the library,” she said.

She said Keef, who has been with the library since 1995, is known for her dedication and patience in helping people that come to her with questions.

“She doesn’t believe in saying, ‘we can’t help you,'” said Gruber. “She will go that extra mile to find the answer.” She recalled a time this year when Keef helped a woman learn to use the Internet to stay in touch with a daughter who had just moved to Brazil.

“She herself has never used a computer much,” said Keef. She helped the woman learn how to use e-mail and view live streaming video feeds of her grandchild.

“She was willing to learn because she was motivated to see her family,” said Keef.

Keef was nominated for the award this summer and the library sent a binder filled with letters written by patrons about her enthusiasm and kind demeanor.

BKeef: Windham Librarian Barbara Keef was awarded the Maine Library Association Outstanding Librarian of the Year this month. Library patrons say that Keef is amazing at answering complicated and frustrating questions about technology.