The Case of the Mystery Librarian
What is Lois Falk up to now?

Story and photo by John Perry

Remember the librarian stereotype? A stuffy, cold and distant woman with her hair in a bun, a cardigan draped over her shoulders, eyeglasses hanging by a chain, whispering, “Hush.”

When it comes to Lois Falk, those corny clichés no longer jibe with reality. OK, she occasionally wears glasses. But that’s where the timeworn comparisons stop.

“Lois is a dynamic, creative, self-motivated leader who delivers extraordinary customer service,” said Laurie Covington, manager, Heights Branch Library. “She is the resident expert for fiction. Lois will always be able to recommend the right book.”

Falk began her career with the city in 1998 as a librarian I at the Kendall Branch on Memorial Drive. Seeking to enhance readers’ experience and generate some branch buzz, Falk formed a mystery book club in October 2002.

“I’ve always loved love reading mysteries. And I love introducing people to books,” said Falk, the acting branch manager at Oak Forest. “We began the book club with just seven of us, five branch patrons, me and the manager. But by 2004, we had grown to 60.”

Members read the same book and then meet and discuss the author’s literary style, character motivation, and crime-solving techniques used by the protagonist, Falk said.

Falk even got Houston Senior Police Officer C. P. Abbondandolo of the homicide division to visit a club meeting and share his knowledge about murder cases he had investigated.

Falk’s sparkling personality and helpfulness appealed to library patrons beyond those in the book club. It wasn’t unusual for a visitor to ask for her by name as they entered the branch.

“Lois is an excellent asset as a reader’s advisor,” Kathy Hicks, an accountant and mother, wrote to the Library Department. “Nine times out of 10, I find my friends have also had the same proactive assistance from Lois.”

Giving customers personal service is the most natural thing in the world to her, Falk said. “I treat each person as if he or she is the most important person in the room.”

Supervisors took notice of her special rapport, and, in 2004, Falk was promoted to manage the Looscan Branch on Willowick near Westheimer.

Unwilling to let her go, 25 to 30 loyal book club members followed Falk the 14 miles to Looscan.

The book club flourished in its new location.

“I would spy customers perusing mystery books and I would go over and recruit them into the club,” Falk said.

Frances Pendergast, a long-time branch patron and book club member, wrote Director of Libraries Rhea Lawson about her high regard for Falk.

“When (Falk) first came to Looscan, she immediately introduced herself and began to assess what my interests were, what type of books I liked. In the 50 years of regular patronage at Looscan, I had never experienced a librarian with such involvement with the library users,” wrote Pendergast. “I admire her passion, energy, her obvious love of books, and, more importantly, her love of people.”

Before the monthly club meeting, Falk would research the author’s body of work and gather whatever biographical background she could find.

“I was born to do research. I’ve always loved it,” she said.

Her well-rounded catalog of knowledge led to her Oct. 22, 1992 television appearance as a contestant on the quiz show “Jeopardy!” 

During club meetings, Falk used to solicit suggestions for the next book.

“But the pauses were pregnant enough to deliver quintuplets,” she said.

She stopped asking and started choosing books on her own.

Then, in September 2005, Looscan closed for renovation and Falk transferred to the Oak Forest Branch on West 43rd Street.

Again, the club pulled up stakes and followed Falk the eight miles to Oak Forest, which was 14 miles from the club’s original home.

“Reading is such a solitary endeavor, it’s fun to be in the group and discuss books with others,” said Kathryn Geiger, an attorney and member of the mystery club. “For a lot of the members who’ve been away from school for years and years, it offers them a chance to share knowledge in a way they’ve haven’t for a long time.”

Falk came to librarianship from another career. She was a prosecuting attorney in Manhattan and Queens. Then she moved to Houston and worked under Harris County District Attorney Johnny Homes.

“I was seeing all the bad things that people do to one another,” she said. “I decided I wanted to help people who weren’t always suffering in a crisis.”

A self-proclaimed “print junkie” without a 12-step program to wean her from her book addiction, Falk fueled her passion by getting a master’s degree in library science.

Graduating with a 4.0 grade point average at age 48, Falk said she had finally found the right path.

“I love what I do. Before, my life was like eating a big dinner. Now, I’m having dessert.”

“The passion and energy Lois Falk brings to her work epitomizes what we should all be striving toward: efficient, effective and responsive customer service,” Mayor Bill White said.

“And in Ms. Falk’s case, the results speak for themselves."