Helen Jensen was the spine of the library for decades

The Cloquet Library has been blessed with tremendously dedicated staff and volunteers over the years.

One of those was Helen Jensen, a 40-year employee of the library, whose name would be near the top of any hypothetical list of dedicated community contributors to this resource.

Jensen was hired as the library's first children's librarian in 1936, and was appointed director in November 1944. She would serve as director for 32 years, until December 1976.

Kathy Blais, a fellow library board member, grew up on Summit Avenue as Helen Jensen's neighbor. Kathy, along with Charlie Jensen and his twin...