Margit Codispoti

More than 3 years and still I think of you every day.

It has been almost a year and I still miss Margit every day. This Memoriam was shared at a Faculty Senate meeting in 2023.

Dr. M. Gail Hickey
Close friend and colleague

In Memoriam
Margit Ene Piirma Codispoti
July 3, 1947 - January 24, 2023

Margit Codispoti died Tuesday, January 24, 2023 in Silver Springs, Maryland following a brief illness. She was born in Estonia on July 3, 1947 and emigrated to the United States with her parents and maternal grandparents on October 11, 1949 through the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. She is survived by her daughters Emilie and Alika.

Margit received a Bachelor of Arts in German from the University of Akron in 1970, a Master of Arts in English from Illinois State University in 1972, and a Master of Library Science from Ball State University in 1982. She began work on a specialized Master´s degree in Children´s Literature in 2003 at Hollins University which culminated in her master´s thesis, "What Nancy Drew Meant to a Generation of Women Growing Up in Post-World War II America" and was awarded a degree in 2012.

Margit began working at Helmke Library in Fall 1982 as a part-time reference librarian, assumed a Visiting Librarian position for the 1984-1985 academic year, and joined the ranks as an Assistant Librarian for sciences, health sciences, and engineering and technology in July 1985. She was promoted to Associate Librarian in 1989 and tenured in 1991. She became the Head of Technical Services in 1994 and Head of Monographic Acquisitions and Cataloging in 1997. She also served as Preservation Librarian and Collection Development Librarian until her retirement on April 30, 2013.

Margit was well-known for her commitment and contributions to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. She was dedicated to upholding faculty rights, academic freedom, and the tenure process. She was the library´s representative to Faculty Senate for many years and served on most of its committees and subcommittees. In fact, if one reviewed committee memberships during her time, one would find her name on nearly every IPFW committee at some point, often in the role of Chair on many of the most important and time-consuming ones. She was involved in a variety of special campus activities, including heading a library team to create a unique Lending Collection during The Remnant Trust at IPFW in 2009.

As a member of the library, Margit was involved in numerous projects to improve library services. She headed the Collection Development committee to establish policies and procedures for purchasing and keeping library materials relevant. She created plans to update processes in acquiring and cataloging monographs, worked to consider how early iterations of digital resources such as databases and online books could be integrated into the library, and participated in the project to barcode 151,982 books for electronic circulation in 1990-1991.

But Margit was not all work and no play. She was a dedicated birder, serving as a member of the board of the Tippecanoe Chapter of the Audubon Society. She planned, organized, and implemented the Christmas bird count for the area for many years and led some of the annual field trips during the spring and fall migration season. She was a Purdue University Extension Master Gardener and a Master Naturalist with ACRES Land Trust. She sold her fabric crafts at the Johnny Appleseed Festival for many years and was known to family and friends as a creative and generous baker of Christmas cookies. And long-time library staff will remember working with Margit to build holiday "book trees" made with the large green-bound volumes of the National Union Catalog.

Margit Codispoti was a dedicated colleague, an active community member, and a loyal friend. She will be missed by many.

I am extremely saddened to learn of Margit's passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to Margit's family and friends.

Margit has been my close friend for more than 25 years. I have fond memories of hours-long chats over lunches and dinners, day trips to nearby parks and festivals, movies, and birthdays shared with Margit. Especially I will cherish memories of our annual Antiques in the Park excursions.

Margit's love of nature, innate wisdom, witty conversation, delightful sense of humor, creativity and unique presence will be missed.

Silvia, Emilie, and Alika, my thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of loss. Margit was a smart, witty and generous friend and colleague who will be deeply missed.