We’re sad.

We are losing our fabulous Reference Librarian, Sarah Palacios-Wilhelm. Last weekend she graduated GW with her second Master’s Degree (overachiever!) and now she and her family are leaving happy Eckles for a new life in Houston, Texas.

Sarah has been responsible for a lot of great stuff both at Eckles and Gelman. You can thank her for your ability to ask questions via Instant Message through the EcklesInfo and GelmanInfo programs. You also have Sarah to thank for the Eckles Prize (have you entered yet?). On top of all that, she has been a great teacher and source for reference assistance.

Next year we’ll have a bright and shiny new Reference Librarian here at Eckles, but no one will ever replace Sarah.

You may not realize it, but Eckles Library loves you! And we’re giving away special bookmarks all day today to show it. Come by Eckles today and pick up some candy, a bookmark and a big helping of Eckles love.

For those cynics among us whose affection can’t be bought with sweets and trinkets, here is our Valentine’s Day list of the top 20 ways Eckles shows its love for YOU:

1. AIM/Yahoo/GTalk: EcklesInfo
2. Quarter coffee, cappuccino & hot chocolate
3. Open until 3am Sunday through Thursday nights
4. Friendly & helpful staff
5. Eckles Flix
6. The Eckles Prize for Excellence in Freshman Research
7. Make your own Mini-Pizza nights
8. Home to over 64,000 books with access to millions more through the Washington Research Library Consortium
9. Free Coffee during midterms and finals
10. Open 24-hours for Finals and Reading Days
11. Lots of study rooms
12. Three computer labs, including one open 24-hours
13. Board at Eckles
14. Comfortable furniture
15. Wireless internet available throughout the library and campus
16. Awesome student lounge filled with the comforting scent of coffee
17. Leisure reading collection
18. Make your own PB&J, Cereal Night, fortune cookies, candy…there always seems to be food at Eckles
19. Staff won’t wake you up from your nap unless you ask.
20. Cheesy Valentine’s Day blog posts!

Back by popular demand are our special “Eckles Library Loves You” bookmarks for Valentine’s Day. Drop by the circulation desk now through Wednesday to pick up this little reminder of just how much you mean to us (and candy)!