Finding Your Way With Jane

Often in photography, you regret the one photo that you didn't have the opportunity to take. Tonight, upon coming home from a meeting, I learned of the sudden loss of Jane Churchill, the librarian at the Durham Library.

I knew very little of Jane's personal life since I knew only of her from our little trips to the library. But the mark she left on me and (I would venture to say) everyone who passed through the library doors was indelible. There were few that looked so comfortable in the setting of books as Jane did. I met her shortly after moving to the area.

In my third year here, I would discover photography. Over the long winter months, I would park myself in the photography section, sitting kris-crossed on the floor trying to absorb just a few bits of knowledge to my newfound craft. Jane would get used to me sitting there, often stepping over me as she would shelve books.  She would smile, ask questions and show her encouragement. On two occasions, Durham library would come up on my caller ID and I would hear Jane's voice...

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