On Saturday; book lovers from all over the Island gathered at the West Tisbury Public Library to celebrate librarian Paula Black on what would have been her 57th birthday.

The petite, sultry-voiced librarian died in October after an 11-year battle with cancer. More than 200 assembled for the dedication in her honor of a gingko tree, holy to the Chinese, and of a memorial bench of incense cedar wood that is holy to American Indians. The wood for its construction was a gift from her admirers at the Polly Hill Arboretum, and it was fashioned into a bench by longtime West Tisbury friend Tucker Hubbell. Looking out as it does onto Maley’s Pond, it is a bench for the contemplative, for readers who prefer enjoying books outdoors, for couples in love, for children reveling in nature. So many of Paula Black’s happiest moments had been spent among the trees, birds, animals, insects and flowers of West Tisbury.

A Vineyard resident since 1979, she was the wife for almost 38 years of painter-carpenter Michael Black. At home, she knitted and sewed, braided rugs, kept bees and grew orchids. In her days of good health she was an inveterate road racer. Before finding her niche as a librarian, she had a variety of Island jobs: she was a milkmaid at Nip and Tuck Farm, worked at the original health food store and at the Gannon and Benjamin boatyard — all in Vineyard Haven. She also worked as a house cleaner, and it was in that capacity that she first went to the library. A great book lover, in no time at all, she was working in circulation, and 15 years ago she became the library’s first head of circulation. She remained in that post during the tenure of three librarians — painstakingly, warmly and gently teaching them the ropes of being town librarian.

At Saturday’s memorial service, Paula Black was remembered for the timbre of her voice, for her gentleness, kindness and patience. She was likened in a short story by fellow library worker and writer Jennifer Tseng to a hummingbird that has just taken flight for the winter. Indeed, the hummingbird was one of her favorite birds.

The Rev. Roger Spinney of Falmouth ended the memorial celebration by inviting all attending to sing a rousing Happy Birthday to their beloved Paula.

— Phyllis Meras