Local observations mark National Library Week

library friends — Members of the Commissioners Court, Librarian Marcine McCulley and library volunteers join Judge David Sweet as he accepts a symbolic check from Debbie Daniels, Friends of the Library president, for $236,910.30 representing the value of 10,506 hours of volunteer services by library tutors and volunteers in FY 2014.

(ROCKWALL, TX – April 15, 2015) A Commissioners Court proclamation and a check for more than a quarter million dollars mark Rockwall County’s observation of National Library Week.

At the April 14^th Commissioners Court meeting, Judge David Sweet and the Commissioners Court issued a proclamation designating April 12-18 as National Library Week. The proclamation was accepted by volunteer representatives Pat Calhoun and Kathleen Broze, recipients of the 2014 Hays and Hartman Awards given to outstanding volunteers.

Judge Sweet called the Rockwall County Library a special asset for the county and commended Librarian Marcine McCulley for her leadership. He commented that Friends of the Rockwall County Library is not just an organization but truly friends of the library and friends of Rockwall County.

Debbie Daniels, president of Friends, presented the court a check facsimile for $236,910.30 representing the value of 10,506 hours of volunteer services performed at the library during fiscal year 2014. She explained that volunteers shelve books, maintain the Book Alcove, and perform light clerical duties that help keep the library running smoothly. Student volunteers work in the children’s area and assist during the Summer Reading Program.

Daniels told the court that 65 tutors work with the library’s Adult Literacy Program, Reading for Adults. These volunteers teach 494 adults who are in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program, up from a total of 285 last year. They also work with 206 students who are studying for the GED test, tutor people who have never learned to read, and conduct citizenship classes for 39 students. During this past fiscal year 1,172 classes were held. Six students learned to read and write, 31 adults have earned GED certificates, three were accepted to college, 99 advanced a class level, and seven became citizens.

More information about becoming a library volunteer can be obtained by calling 972-204-7700.

Story and photo by Nell Welborn.

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