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California Library Hall of Fame

Terry Jackson (1951 – 2022)

Terry Jackson was an innovative library leader who broke many gender barriers throughout her life. Growing up in South San Francisco and San Francisco, she wanted to attend Santa Clara University, which only admitted men. When the university’s rules changed, Terry enrolled, and graduated in 1973. She obtained a Master of Library Science degree in 1975 from San Jose State University.

Terry worked at the San Bruno Public Library for 32 years (1975 – 2007) moving her way up to the Director of Library Services. Through her leadership, the Friends group became so popular that book sales were held at the local shopping mall. Terry implemented one of the first Library of Things, checking out sewing patterns. Thanks to her versatility, administrative skills, and respected leadership in the city, Terry was appointed as Interim Director of Planning and Building from 2005-2007.

As San Bruno Library Director, Terry was an active leader in the Peninsula Library System (PLS) consortium, chairing the Finance Committee and ensuring PLS offered innovative services to its libraries and community members. Terry was well-known among colleagues as a strategic thinker and stalwart confidant who would provide critical feedback in a kind and generous manner.

Breaking yet another gender barrier, Terry was the first woman to join the San Bruno Rotary Club in 1987. She served on the Board of Directors for over 30 years, encouraging other women to join and become integral parts of Rotary. As with everything she did, Terry led with enthusiasm and determination. Through her Rotary connections, Terry secured donations and sponsorships for the annual Project Read Trivia Challenge. Terry was always outspoken in her appreciation and respect for library literacy services and “put her money where her mouth is” in reaching out to community partners in support of Project Read.

Terry seemed to know everyone and everything. Elected officials, civic leaders, and library staff sought Terry’s opinions, astute observations, or sage advice. She assisted the City of San Bruno in handling the PG&E explosion which decimated an entire neighborhood.

After retiring from San Bruno Library, Terry worked with PLS for another decade, continuing to provide her unique insights, mentoring and supporting many library workers who are now leaders in the profession, and supporting ongoing library innovations to ensure that Peninsula libraries remained at the forefront of creative and responsive services for their communities.  She became a Special Projects Consultant for PLS during the transitional period when the California State Library asked library cooperatives to consolidate. She was essential to the creation of Pacific Library Partnership and NorthNet Library System. Terry led the development of makerspaces in libraries, coordination of the Re(a)d Zone as part of the NFL 50th Superbowl’s $250,000 commitment to early literacy initiatives to combat the summer slide and working with San Mateo County to implement the 211.org and SMC-Connect resources, which provided referrals to community services.