Schmitz Park Elementary School librarian Judi Lybecker is retiring after 20 years, and the school hosted a celebration on June 9 in the library, of course.

Current and past students, parents, friends and family attended. Speeches were made with the reoccurring theme that she has instilled in her students a love of reading, a love of books.

"Ms. Lybecker has made the school a school of readers," said Gerrit Kischner, Schmitz Park principal. "Our kids consume books constantly, and are constantly coming down here to the library. We call her 'the pusher' because she just gets kids reading all the time and we'll treasure that forever and keep them reading."

"I'm going to do some traveling, volunteering, and reading," said Lybecker, who lived in Burien until she moved to West Seattle four years ago.

She said she does not recommend the same author or book to all the kids.

"Different kids have different likes and needs and I have tried to figure out which book each student might read," Lybecker said.

Lybecker opened her farewell gift, a custom-made book in tightly-wrapped gift paper. She showed care in front of her sentimental audience not to sneak a look at the gift before it was unwrapped.

"I never peak at my presents or peak at the last chapter of a book," she declared. "It's all about the surprise."