Sandra Roscoe, Reference Librarian and Bibliographer for Current Fiction, 1947-2015

A dedicated member of the Joseph Regenstein Library’s Reference Department for 39 years, Sandra Roscoe helped generations of students and faculty members find the resources they needed. She died of a stroke on Friday, May 29 at the age of 67.

“Sandy was the consummate reference librarian,” said Jeffry Archer, Head of Reference Instruction and Outreach at Regenstein. “She was passionate about helping patrons, bringing her extensive knowledge of our institution and our print and electronic resources to bear on any question until the answer, resource, or right person was found to fulfill the patron’s need.”

Sandra Roscoe
Sandra Roscoe in 2009 (Photo by Lloyd DeGrane)

Sandy began work at the University of Chicago Library in 1975 as an Assistant Reference Librarian and was later promoted to Reference Librarian. Beginning in 1980, she had selection responsibilities for current English and American fiction.

“Sandy was such a great resource for students,” said Judith Dartt, AM’06, the Digitization Manager for the Library’s Special Collections Research Center. “When I came here as a graduate student, I always received the attention and help I needed from her. Sandy did wonderful work for Special Collections, too, during the time she provided reference support.”

Sandy received her B.A. in English Literature with distinction and honors from Mount Holyoke College.  After two years of graduate study in English at Clemson University, she went to University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she earned her M.S. in Library Science and was elected to Beta Phi Mu, the librarians’ honor society.

During the 1990s, Sandy participated actively in the development of the library catalog Horizon and served on numerous committees including the Media Review and Implementation and Digital Resources Delivery Group.  She enjoyed writing, edited the orientation newsletter in the early 1980s, and served as the Regenstein Coordinator of Public Information in the late 1990s, helping to supply information about the Library to campus publications and other media.  She served on the Reference Advisory Subcommittee of the Virtual Access Committee, and in the early 2000’s assisted with exhibition planning and provided reference service for Reader Services in Special Collections. 

“As our colleague, Sandy infused us with her excitement, sharing questions and resources that came to her while providing reference,” said Archer. “And she made us feel special, often bringing in baked goodies like her amazing ginger cookies.”

Sandy is survived by her brother-in-law, Kent Rigsby, and her niece, Dr. Dana Gossett. 

Donations in Sandy’s memory may be made to the University of Chicago Library’s Fund for Books, which supports the purchase of print and digital resources. To make a gift, contact the Library Development Office at 773-702-7695.