I first came to know Yolanda when I was an undergraduate at the University of Malaya, in Kuala Lumpur. She was working as a Library Assistant then. She was always quietly doing her work and spoke only when spoken to. I admired her professional disposition and her willingness to help students who were at a loss on how to find relevant materials in the library.

When I joined the National Library in Singapore, I was surprised to meet her in one of the talks organised by the LAS. I took courage and ventured up to her to say, “You are Miss Yolanda Beh, aren’t you?” “Yes” she said and looked up trying to figure out who was this friendly guy. “Nice of you to come all the way from KL” I said. “No, I am in Singapore, at RELC” she replied.

That was in 1969, and it was the beginning of a friendship that lasted until her death last year. Here in Singapore, she emerged as a meticulous librarian who built the RELC Library from scratch to an institution of distinction. She became a regional figure and an expert on the subject areas her library specialized in. She was a mentor to numerous librarians and in a small but significant way taught me a few finer points in librarianship and interpersonal relationships. She commanded respect as she conducted herself with the decorum of a professional not only in her demeanor but also in her interaction with staff and friends. She can be harsh to be kind. Once, I had made an appointment to see her but had to cancel it at the last minute. She was upset and called me—without mincing words—to say, “That is not the way to treat a friend!”

Fifteen days before she died, she called me to explore job opportunities on behalf of her friend’s daughter. That was her nature, always helping people even those whom she did not know well. When she retired, we became closer. She took on a part time job with NLB and her office was at Geylang East Library where my office is. We used to run into each other at coffee breaks or at lunch time. At each occasion, we spoke about our jobs, common friends and the fact that we were all growing old. What we never touched on was the fact that life was too short and too unpredictable. None of us, and she least of all, would have predicted that her end was so imminent. Much as we all miss Yolanda, we should take consolation in the words of an eminent poet, “Why should man lament the state he should envy?”

Contributed by R. Ramachandran