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The memory of the late Marilyn J. Praisner, who served nearly five terms on the Montgomery County Council before her death last year, will be more evident in the library that bears her name in Burtonsville.

Thanks to a donation from the Friends of the Aspen Hill Library, a portrait of the longtime councilwoman who represented District 4, which includes Burtonsville, Fairland, White Oak and parts of Olney, Wheaton and Aspen Hill, now greets visitors to what was formerly the Fairland Library until it was renamed last year.

Praisner died Feb. 1, 2008, of complications following heart surgery.

"It's very appropriate and we're very happy to have this picture," said James Stewart, branch manager of the Marilyn J. Praisner Library.

It was hung Saturday morning.

The portrait was created in acrylics by Layhill resident Hava G. Seltzer, who said she wanted to paint the picture as a way to pay tribute to Praisner for how hard she worked for her constituents.

"I worked on it for a very long time — it was very emotional," Seltzer said, adding she painted a second portrait at the same time.

Both were ready in time for a charity auction in Rockville in May 2008.

Elliot Chabot, a board member of the Friends of the Aspen Hill Library, said he was struck by the cheerful portrait when he saw it at the auction. He had known Praisner for some 30 years and considered her a good friend. He snapped it up for approximately $40.

"I bought it because it was of Marilyn," he said. "She had just passed away a few months ago and I thought it was a nice memorial to her."

Seltzer and Chabot agreed it made sense to hang the portrait in the building named in her honor. "It also occurred to me that it would be nice for the Aspen Hill Friends of the Library to reach out to the people of Fairland and Burtonsville and the Praisner Friends of the Library," he said. "Hopefully, it'll hang in the library for many, many years."

Betsy Matthews, president of the Praisner Library Friends, said she is grateful for the gift. "I think it's very nice of them to donate it to us and we're happy to have it."

Seltzer said she thinks the portrait is like having a piece of Praisner in the library — the library she frequently used as a resident of nearby Calverton.

"For me she was a model public servant and I hope that this portrait will help to keep her memory and example fresh in our hearts," Seltzer said.