Library hosts volunteer appreciation event

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Municipal Library hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Event, May 14, to celebrate those who donate their time for the benefit of the library. 

Laura Henderson, public services manager with the Strathmore Municipal Library, explained the event is held annually, and this year’s featured a paint project and treats for the volunteers who came out to be recognized for their efforts. 

“Typically, we do it the third week of April during National Volunteer Recognition Week, but just based on scheduling around the library and that sort of thing, we invited them during that week and provided them with some feedback and some of our appreciation, but decided to schedule the event for this month so we had a little more time,” said Henderson. “We hosted a mixed media art program where we provided (our volunteers) with a canvas and art supplies and ideas on what to create, just to have them all together. Four Sisters also provided snacks.”

This year marks the third that the library has hosted a designated volunteer appreciation event. The first event of this type was hosted by the library when longtime volunteer, Pat Frederick retired.

Prior to the launch of the volunteer appreciation event in the spring, the library had previously recognized their volunteers in December with a gift at the end of a given year. 

“When we first did this event in April two years ago, it was such a big hit, and just having everyone together – staff and volunteers, was a really nice way to recognize them,” said Henderson. “When I took over volunteer management maybe seven years ago or so, we had a couple of volunteers, and we appreciated them with little gifts here and there, but then when Pat was retiring, she had been here for so long that we wanted to do something a little bigger.”

Henderson explained following Pat’s retirement, the general thought process was to continue hosting similar appreciation events, especially as the local volunteer base grew.

According to Henderson, the Strathmore Municipal Library currently boasts roughly 35 volunteers, as well as 25 for the adult literacy program. 

“We have a lot of volunteers who are keeping things running and we want them to know that we could not do it without them,” she said. “As we have found ways to utilize our volunteers, that sort of frees up time for our staff to do other really worthwhile things in the library, like our programmers can focus on programming because we have volunteers who will help them with the preparations and with the facilitation of things.”