Mary Koss Branom is pleased to honor the memory of her cousin, Audrey M. Schatz, by supporting The Seattle Public Library Foundation. Audrey was Mary’s first “teacher”; while studying education at the University of Washington, Audrey would practice her student teaching activities with Mary, her younger cousin. After graduation, most of Audrey’s educational career was spent with the Seattle Public Schools, at Bagley, University Heights, Lowell, and Beacon Hill Elementary schools. She also taught overseas in Heilbronn, Germany, and as a Fulbright teacher in Nelson, New Zealand, and in Beith, Scotland. Although she enjoyed teaching, her greatest joy came from being a school librarian. Audrey always loved libraries and, as a child, spent much of her free time at the Ballard Branch of The Seattle Public Library. As a caregiver to Audrey in her later years, Mary helped her check out library books on a regular basis and make periodic donations to the Foundation.
Mary was also a teacher, and in retirement served overseas as a Peace Corps Volunteer, as a Teacher Trainer in the country of Azerbaijan. Part of her volunteer work involved helping local teachers set up classroom and school libraries. Long-time Seattle residents, Mary and her family have enjoyed many library programs over the years. Now she looks forward to supporting all that libraries can offer her grandchildren and future generations of Seattleites. Libraries are valuable institutions for life-long learning and enhance the vibrance of our communities. Mary desires to honor Audrey and her legacy as an outstanding school librarian by ensuring ongoing support for the libraries she loved.