Doris B. Pagel

Doris B. Pagel, 77, of Rochester and Professor Emeritus, Mankato State University, died Tuesday at Rochester Methodist Hospital.Miss Pagel was born February 19, 1928 in rural St. Charles to Paul and Anna Pagel. She graduated from St. Charles High School in 1945 and later earned academic degrees from the Universities of Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska. Her early library work was in the Sioux City, Iowa Public Library, the University of Minnesota Law Library and the Rochester Public Library. In August 1959 Miss Pagel joined the faculty at Minnesota State University, Mankato and retired as a Professor of Library Media Education in June of 1987.During her professional career, Dr. Pagel held many committee assignments and elected offices in regional, state and national organizations, including that of serving as President of the Minnesota Association of School Librarians, 1975-76. In 1977 she co-founded the Friends of the Minnesota Valley Regional Library Organization. In 1992 she moved from Mankato to Rochester where she spearheaded many of Minnesota Valley's projects. In 1979 she originated the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, a program designed to encourage children's voluntary reading. The program continues to be used in schools and libraries in Minnesota. During most of her professional career and into retirement, she promoted Minnesota authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults. She compiled and published informational directories about them in 1991 and 1997. She was recognized for her work in this area with the 1992 Kay Sexton Award, given by the Minnesota Center for the Book. In 1979 the Minnesota Library Association designated her "Librarian of the Year" noting her advocacy for library networking, and support of Friends of the Library organizations. The Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois, in 1965, bestowed on her membership in Beta Phi Mu, the honorary society of the Library Science profession.Miss Pagel is survived by two sisters, Evelyn Fabian of Winona and Alice Abbott of Marshfield, WI, as well as several nieces and nephews. Three brothers and one sister preceded her in death. Private family services will be held with Rev. Michael Hart of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in St. Charles officiating. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery, St. Charles. Please share a memory of Doris on her on-line guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.