The second installment in a series of stories chronicling the outside lives of Northeastern’s librarians.

When it comes to piecing things together, Librarian and Administration Operations Manager Betsy Habich knows the value of a stitch in time. Whether it is working on one of her many art quilts or overseeing the construction of Snell Library, Habich has an eye for detail and an appreciation of aesthetics.

For the last nine years Habich worked to perfect her quilting; focusing not on traditional geometric patterns, but rather on vibrant colors, unique fabrics and overall artistic expression.

“I had these images in my head that I wanted to get out, but I had no idea how to do it,” Habich said.

Growing up sewing her own clothes, Habich began to refine her quilting skills after taking a class with quilt artist Ruth McDowell. Her first completed art quilt was an homage to her late cat, Ollie. Habich said the memory quilt helped her to “get over the guilt” of losing her cat.

Another of Habich’s 25 to 30 quilts, also depicting one of her cats, allowed her to experiment with different prints. In the quilt, Habich chose a floral print which, when carefully cut, illustrated the cat’s feathered tail. Finding the right fabrics for her work is an endeavor that Habich enjoys undertaking.

“It’s a challenge in the sense of ‘How bizarre can I get in choosing a fabric?'” she said.

Her work, however, extends beyond simply choosing fabrics and portraying her pets.

In her quilt “Homage to St. Henny of Waban,” Habich echoed a medieval devotional manuscript, but incorporated quotes regarding the importance of color and contrast.

It is not the first time Habich’s visual side has crossed with her academic background.

“She’s really interested in the way things are presented visually in the library,” said Associate Dean of Collections and Technical Service Will Wakeling. “She’s using the same design skills [as her quilting] in her professional work.”

Habich began her work at Northeastern in the Dodge Library in 1982. Four years later, she was asked to oversee the planning of what would become Snell Library. Her roles included planning the functional design of counters, giving feedback to architects, sketching designs, and organizing and managing the relocation of the library’s collections.

“The library owes her a great debt,” Wakeling said. “She’s already left a very significant mark on the history of Snell Library.”

But her impact has reached beyond campus, as well. After successfully completing the library’s move, Habich began work on a book detailing the process, which has gone on to become, as she described it, “of intense interest to few people.” Wakeling said the book has become the go-to text for moving libraries.

In the last few years, Habich has gone back to working as a reference librarian and will begin teaching philosophy and religion classes this fall.

“She’s returned to some of her roots in reference services,” Wakeling said. “It’s been a new lease on life for her.”

Habich is also incorporating some of her work into the fabric of Northeastern as she displays her quilt “Sunflowers” in the faculty and staff art exhibition.

Habich has made quite a mark on campus, and over the years, she acknowledged the university community has made its mark on her.

“I like being part of the Northeastern family,” she said. “It’s been such a joy to see it become more of an academic institution, see the quality of students improve so greatly and [see improvement] in the library too. It’s great to have been part of that.”