Supported by a Bachelor of Science from Boston College from 1965 and a Master of Library Science from Peabody College in 1966, Mary K. Spore Alhadef has been recognized for her decades-long tenure in librarianship. While studying toward her undergraduate degree, she worked in the college libraries, which was where she found her true calling. Following her receipt of her bachelor’s degree, Ms. Spore Alhadef received letters of recommendation from the director of libraries at her alma mater, which afforded her the opportunity to attend library school. Only 11 months later, she earned her librarianship degree and commenced her prolific career.
At the inception of her career in 1966, Ms. Spore Alhadef served Boston College as an assistant to the director of libraries for two years. For the following five years, she notably served as a librarian for the Weston College School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as well as a librarian at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California, from 1973 to 1976. During her tenure at St. Patrick’s Seminary, Ms. Spore Alhadef was especially gratified by the opportunity to move the seminary’s collection of books and archives to Cambridge. She later served as a reference librarian for the Graduate Theological Union Library in Berkeley, California, from 1976 to 1977.
Ms. Spore Alhadef then joined the Redwood City Public Library in California in 1978, where she first served as an audio-visual librarian. Remaining in that capacity for a number of decades, she subsequently served as a general reference, local history and archives librarian beginning in 2006. Ms. Spore Alhadef ultimately retired from her profession in 2019.
Outside of her primary responsibilities, Ms. Spore Alhadef spent significant time authoring chapters in the books “Redwood City: A Hometown History” and “150th Anniversary Book.” She has been lauded for her involvement in librarianship and was interviewed by Korean Television in 2018 for her achievements. To supplement her career experience, Ms. Spore Alhadef was a member of the American Theological Library Association from 1969 to 2009 and, since 2019, has been a board member of the archives committee for the Redwood City Public Library.
As a testament to her success, Ms. Spore Alhadef has been highlighted in several Marquis Who’s Who publications, including the 65th through 72nd editions of Who’s Who in America between 2010 and 2019. Looking forward, she intends to continue enjoying her retirement and pass down her legacy.
