On Campus
Marjorie Farquharson—Librarian, Teacher, Storyteller, Friend—Retires After 33 Years at DCD By Beth Conners and friends
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fter 33 years at the helm of the DCD Library, Marjorie “Marge” Farquharson will be missed by all who enjoyed her book recommendations and her contagious love of reading. Marge had a passion for books, for technology, and for ideas, and by generously sharing those passions, she made a huge difference and indelible impact on the lives of both the children and the adults with whom she worked. Marge joined the faculty in September 1987 as assistant librarian, and the following year took over the role of head librarian. Before DCD had its present entrance, students, parents, and visitors entered the school through a set of double doors. Immediately to the right was the head of school’s office, and to the left was the library, with the curved librarian’s desk at the front. In the morning, Marge was one of the first people to greet the students, each of whom she knew by name. She also knew most of the parents, and she cheerfully directed visitors to their destinations. In so many ways, Marge was the hub of the school, even when the entrance was relocated to the ground floor. Everyone used the library: students asked for help with their research, different grades met daily for reading and animated discussion, parents asked for guidance in choosing books for their kids, and all day, people would stop to chat with the librarian. Marge made time for everyone, and she was unfailingly cheerful. Marge built a strong collection of literature for DCD’s young readers. Recognizing that technology was the way of the future, Marge worked to create an online borrowing system for DCD, replacing the old “card in the back of the book” method. Her interest in technology led to her own professional development and interest in coding, and for many years she offered free coding classes for students after school. Marge’s interests and passions shaped much of her work at DCD. She is an ardent reader—a true bibliophile—and was a key person in starting the DCD Faculty Book Club. 44
Marge often enjoyed hosting present and former faculty in her home to discuss their latest read. Marge is also an expert quilter. She was instrumental in getting a school quilt project going. She engaged a friend of hers, Rosemary Bawn—a nationally known quiltmaker—to design a quilt for DCD’s Centennial in 2005. A group of faculty quilters identified the DCD traditions they wanted to be represented on the quilt. The quilters who completed the project along with Marge were Spanish teacher Susie Jackson, Head of School Sonia Valentine, and second-grade teacher Nancy Zoller. The quilt hangs in the Lowell Center today. Marge has many other creative outlets as well, including Nantucket basket-weaving and cross stitch and embroidery. After longtime faculty member Janine Saint-Louis retired, Marge taught embroidery in the Middle School arts program. Many years into her tenure as librarian, Marge was asked to teach Middle School English along with her library duties. She enjoyed being in the classroom and sharing her love of literature and writing with the eighth-graders. She worked with them on their Smooth Talk speeches, as well. Marge also co-taught Facing History and Ourselves to the eighth grade. Even after she no longer taught the course, she never lost her passion for discussing current events with students. Many students remembered Marge in their speeches as someone who had an impact on them. As time went by, Marge left teaching Middle School English to teach a fourth-grade reading group along with her library duties. Marge enjoyed the literature for this group,
