By Kate Thorman

In August 1974, Los Altos Hills resident Sandy Kelly walked into the Los Altos Public Library pushing her newborn baby in a stroller. Being offered a job in the children’s section was the last thing she expected.

But when it was offered, Kelly jumped at the opportunity and has worked there ever since.

Kelly, who retired at the end of March, has worked in libraries since high school. Before her 22 years in the Los Altos Library Children’s Department, she worked elsewhere in the Santa Clara County Library system for five years.

The Los Altos Library is her favorite.

“We renovated about 10 years ago, so it’s a beautiful setting,” she said. “And the people of Los Altos have been so generous in passing tax overrides, we have enough money to have a really good book collection and longer hours.”

Kelly stayed in the children’s section because she loved “the books and the people — and the kids are so cute! The kids are so smart and articulate. Some of the 4- and 5-year-olds really strike me.”

In addition to working directly with the children, Kelly made lists of children’s books for every possible interest.

“Everyone has a thing they do and booklists are mine,” Kelly said. “Some of them are up to 50 pages long!” Her recommendations include “The Secret Garden” and books by Dick King-Smith or Gary Paulsen.

Children’s storytime on Thursday evenings was one of Kelly’s favorite tasks.

“It’s a bedtime storytime, so I’d dress up in my bathrobe and slippers and the kids are supposed to come in their pajamas — some of them do,” Kelly said.

She would bring in puppets and stuffed animals to carry out each week’s story and theme.

“Some of the moms of children at the storytimes were children in my storytimes early on,” she laughed. Obviously, they had a good enough experience to want to bring their children.

The Los Altos Library itself is very special, said Kelly. “People say how much they like us. This library really makes a difference. We have instilled a love of reading in so many people.”

Kelly’s years at the library have not all been fun.

She recalled three major disasters during her time here. The first was when two older people drove through the wall and narrowly missed hitting the staff at the checkout counter.

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake was also significant. All the books fell off the shelves and the librarians had to put the library back together.

Another time, the sprinklers in the children’s section accidentally turned on and “watered all the children’s books.”

While she enjoyed working at the library, Kelly looks forward to retirement.

“We work long hours,” she said, “and we have to work weekends as well. It will be nice to be able to go away on the weekends.”

Head Librarian Cheryl Houts said Kelly will be sorely missed by her fellow librarians. “It’s been my privilege to work with Sandy since I came on board in 1997 as the head of the Children’s Department. She is an exceptional librarian and has served our community very well. I wish her the best of luck.”