Peggy SALWEN
Retiree Peggy Salwen died on September 4, 2025 after living with the effects of ALS for nine months. Peggy was seventy-five years old and a resident of the Upper West Side of Manhattan at the time of her death.
A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, Peggy graduated from Centenary College and Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her Master of Library Science degree from Emory University in Atlanta. After relocating to New York in 1975, Peggy joined the New York Society Library as the first children’s librarian ever hired by that institution. She led the Children’s Room there until 1982 when she joined NYPL. Peggy worked at a variety of branches, including Donnell Central Children’s Room, 96th Street, Epiphany, and Webster. In 1997, she left NYPL to become school librarian at P.S. 87 in Manhattan. On her return to NYPL in 2013, Peggy was the Children’s Librarian at 67th Street and finally at St. Agnes, a position she held until her retirement in 2017.
Bringing books and children together remained Peggy’s lifelong mission in retirement. She continued to volunteer as a storyteller and encouraged anyone in her circle with gifts of children’s books for their families. She was a tireless advocate for her community and city and never hesitated to share her fierce indignation at attacks on civil rights, equality, and inclusion. Peggy is survived by her husband Peter, sons James and William, and an extended family. A well-attended funeral was held at Riverside Memorial Chapel on September 9th. Donations in Peggy’s memory can be made to VNS Health (vnshealth.org).
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 52, pages 1, 19
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 34, page 19, 23.
Retiree Peggy Salwen died on September 4, 2025 after living with the effects of ALS for nine months. Peggy was seventy-five years old and a resident of the Upper West Side of Manhattan at the time of her death.
A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, Peggy graduated from Centenary College and Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her Master of Library Science degree from Emory University in Atlanta. After relocating to New York in 1975, Peggy joined the New York Society Library as the first children’s librarian ever hired by that institution. She led the Children’s Room there until 1982 when she joined NYPL. Peggy worked at a variety of branches, including Donnell Central Children’s Room, 96th Street, Epiphany, and Webster. In 1997, she left NYPL to become school librarian at P.S. 87 in Manhattan. On her return to NYPL in 2013, Peggy was the Children’s Librarian at 67th Street and finally at St. Agnes, a position she held until her retirement in 2017.
Bringing books and children together remained Peggy’s lifelong mission in retirement. She continued to volunteer as a storyteller and encouraged anyone in her circle with gifts of children’s books for their families. She was a tireless advocate for her community and city and never hesitated to share her fierce indignation at attacks on civil rights, equality, and inclusion. Peggy is survived by her husband Peter, sons James and William, and an extended family. A well-attended funeral was held at Riverside Memorial Chapel on September 9th. Donations in Peggy’s memory can be made to VNS Health (vnshealth.org).
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 52, pages 1, 19
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 34, page 19, 23.