For many years, when a professor had a tough research problem, there was only one person to call. That person was reference librarian Hope Yelich. That will end soon because Hope will retire at the end of August 2012.
In 1972, as a fresh graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Hope arrived at William & Mary to pursue a master's degree in history. During that time, she worked as an editorial apprentice at the Institute of Early American History and Culture. She also worked in the publications branch of the Virginia State Library (now Library of Virginia) in Richmond and did brief stints at Colonial Williamsburg and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York.
In 1978, she returned to Williamsburg and began working in Swem Library. She eventually earned a master's degree in library science from Catholic University. Hope became a reference librarian and earned a reputation as an extremely knowledgeable and tireless researcher. She served as the library's history expert and would often be brought in on difficult reference questions and research projects. Over the years, Hope developed many friendships with people all over campus, and it is still not uncommon for people to come in and ask if Hope is available.
A gifted writer and expert copy editor, Hope would often write and edit publications for the library and for her colleagues. She reviewed books for national publications, including the American Reference Books Annual. In 2004, she was chosen to author a chapter for a book, Women's Studies: A Recommended Bibliography.
Hope stayed active in the intellectual life of the library and beyond. She served as liaison to several departments, including History, Anthropology, Africana Studies, and Medieval-Renaissance Studies, but her first love was always History. She has been a tireless advocate for building collections in history and related areas.
She served on many special projects and committees, including the Librarians Assembly, the Salary Committee, and the Electronic Resources Committee. She was also active in national organizations and presented programs at national meetings.
Hope will be sorely missed by her colleagues and by the many researchers whom she assisted over the years.
--Don Welsh, Acting Director of Research, Instruction, and Outreach Services