Prominent worker of the National Library, former Head of Lituanica Department Silvija Marija Vėlavičienė passed away on September 5, 2011.
So little time left till issuing of her book “In Search of Lost Time”… The book, witnessing her very important work in book science, librarianship and culture during four decades devoted to the National Library.
Silvija Marija Vėlavičienė was born in May 19, 1941, Kaunas. She studied Lithuanian language and literature in History-Philology faculty of Vilnius University in 1958–1963. Since 1964 she worked as a bibliographer in the State Republican Library (now Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania), since 1987 she was the Head of Lithuanian Studies Department. Later (2001–2008) Silvija Marija Vėlavičienė headed the Lituanica Department of the National Library.
S. M. Vėlavičienė received the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (in 1997), the Commemorative Medal of 13 January (in 2002), Martynas Mažvydas award for contribution to Lithuanian language, writing history and book art (in 2008).
All colleagues of Silvija Marija Vėlavičienė will miss her professional view, sincere advices, optimism, inspirational love for work. We lost a good friend, and family lost beloved mother, wife, grandmother and sister…