Babs Wells, Head of Children’s Services at the Greenville Public Library, has announced her retirement. Babs has worked in Greenville since 2014, and was the Children’s Librarian at the East Smithfield Public Library for 11 years prior. She also previously worked for Providence Public Library, and is a 2006 graduate of the URI Graduate School of Library and Information Services. Her last official day at the Greenville Public Library will be December 4th.

 

During her time at the Greenville Public Library, Babs has expanded programming, outreach, partnerships, and resources to welcome people from all backgrounds and abilities. She co-founded a statewide Sensory Friendly Inclusive Group, which empowers librarians to better serve individuals and their families who are neurodiverse or on the autism spectrum. The partnerships Babs has built with community organizations, including Tri-County Community Action’s Head Start Program, have promoted early childhood cognitive, language and social-emotional development for families in Smithfield and surrounding areas. She was an inaugural member of the Kids Reading Across Rhode Island (KRARI) committee, which encourages Rhode Island students to participate in community book discussions and programs that bridge school and summer reading. Babs’ love of nature and poetry are reflected in her involvement in the library’s Woodland Whispers Committee, which created a pollinator and poetry garden at the Greenville Public Library. 

 

“Despite her many professional accomplishments, Babs’ most enduring legacy will be how she makes people feel,” said Greenville Public Library Director Corrie Alves. “She makes everyone who visits the children’s room feel special, and children come to the library excited to see “Miss Babs” again. She’ll be greatly missed by staff and families in our library community”.

 

Babs can often be found exploring the natural world and enjoys hiking, especially on the trails in her hometown of Smithfield. She has visited many National Parks and plans to travel and explore the country with her husband Tim in retirement. “I’ll always be a librarian though, wherever I go,” she said. 

 

The Greenville Public Library is hosting a "Day of Babs" on Thursday, November 12 from 1-4 PM. The public is invited to drop by for light refreshments to wish Babs well in her next chapter.