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A Few Clouds Farewell, Miss Cindy
Seaford children’s librarian is retiring after 33 years
It will soon be the end of an era. The Seaford Public Library’s children’s librarian, Cindy Schaaf, will retire at the end of the month, after 33 years.
“It was nine months of turmoil,” Schaaf explained. “I still love my job, so I had to take that out of the equation, but I felt it was time for other things — for family and travel and also to volunteer.”
While the community wishes “Miss Cindy” much happiness and success in the future, many Seafordites expressed sadness at the loss of a children’s librarian who “set the gold standard,” said Frank McKenna, the library’s director. “There is no one as dedicated, energetic and knowledgeable as Cindy,” McKenna added.
That dedication may stem from her commitment to her town. Schaaf, 61, has lived in Seaford since 1977 and has been the children’s librarian since 1981. “I love this town and the people,” she said. “I was eight months pregnant with my son, Phillip, when I got this job. I interviewed in the morning, and that afternoon they called me and offered the job.”
She started in April, and took four days off in May to have her son. “I’ve been here ever since, and never regretted a day,” she said.
Schaaf’s lifelong love affair with libraries and books began when she was an 8-year-old student at Summit Lane School in Levittown. It was there that she met her first librarian — Miss Peabody — who helped to foster her love of books and all things to do with libraries. Schaff joined the library squad and “loved it,” she said. “I was surrounded by books and I’m a reader, so what could possibly be better? I never changed my course. I think some things are fated.”
She earned a master’s degree in library science from C.W. Post in 1976 and went to work in the North Bellmore Library before coming to Seaford.
Doing more for children
The library environment seemed to be a perfect fit for Schaaf. “The library is part of the larger community,” she said. “You get to pull everyone together from different parts of town. I love children and taking care of children. Here I could do more for children.”
