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Adelia Lines was a lover of words. Director of the Berkeley Public Library, Lines died Dec. 7 of brain cancer at her home in Richmond. The 56-year-old library advocate, known as Dede to her friends, was a champion of literacy and of bringing resources to the under-served. She was also a wicked punster who, according to friends, could use humor to ease tension in the most stressful of situations. 

Lines led a major undertaking to restore and renovate the city’s Central Library, marshaling forces for the passage of Measure S, which allocated $30 million for the project. She also helped found the Berkeley Public Library Foundation, which raised more than $3.5 million to equip and improve the library.  

“Dede believed in the role of the public libraries almost as a mission, as a way to offer free and equal access to information,” said her twin sister Jodie Lines. “She was always worried about those who were under-served in the community and believed the libraries could step in and offer computer training and computer access.” Recently, Lines obtained several advanced-generation computers for the library from the Gates Foundation. 

But in spite of her interest in offering the latest technology, Lines was a firm believer in putting a human face on the information age, stressing to her staff the importance of providing attentive service, according to her colleagues at the library.  

Before coming to the Berkeley, Lines was director of the Richmond Public Library, during which time she was appointed by then-governor George Deukmejan to serve on the advisory board to the State Librarian of California. She also served as president of Bibliotecas Para La Gente, an organization devoted to delivery of library services to Spanish-speaking populations She was honored in November with an official commendation from the city for her role in bettering the library system. 

“She was a Berkeley person if ever there was one,” said Councilmember Betty Olds. “She had that warmth and friendliness and spontaneity we value so much.” 

Lines was diagnosed with cancer in March 1999. She left her post at the library three weeks ago when it became clear she was in the last stages of the disease.  

Lines continued her work to help the disadvantaged throughout her own struggles, volunteering for charity work even when she was very incapacitated, according to friend Bea Young, who became close with Lines when the two became some of the first women to join the Berkeley Lions Club. 

Young said Lines was a master of using humor to bring people together. “In a mood of potential conflict, at just the right moment, she’d insert a pun and it would lighten up the mood. She was an absolute master at it.” But, while Lines was a clever speaker, she was also a talented listener, people close to her attested. “She had that unique ability to make other people feel important,” said Olds, who said she seemed to make friends wherever she went. 

Those friends rallied to her side over the last year, cooking meals, running errands and helping out with the housework. “I was pretty humbled by her ability to allow others to help her and show they cared even in times she might have isolated herself,” Young said. 

Her death was mourned by leaders throughout the community. “She will be deeply missed,” said deputy library director Mary Lou Mull. “I regard her passing as a deep loss to the community.” 

Lines’ family plans to hold a ceremony in celebration of her life in January of next year.