"A Tapestry of Talent: Library Volunteers Serving the Fresno County Library Community" was the theme for this year’s annual Fresno County Library Volunteer Recognition Reception on Sunday, March 15, 2009, at the Woodward Park Library. All library volunteers are invited to attend this special event, and we had a tremendous turnout. The Library had 682 amazing volunteers who contributed 27,935 hours of service!
Gina Becker and the Woodward Park Teen Council Members did a great job of greeting
volunteer reception guests and leading tours through the library. As volunteers and library staff enjoyed refreshments, Jeanne Johnson enthusiastically promoted the Big Read, and Jon Adams played previews of songs and stories he performed as part of Big Read Programs at 11 libraries. Linda Calandra and Melissa Moradian, FOL board member, talked to volunteers about Friends of the Library, encouraging them to join their local Friends group, and shared the newly designed membership brochure. Beautiful tapestry banners created by Jill Potter that incorporated branch poetry and quotes were on display at the reception.
Adult Services selected eight cookbook titles, and each branch with volunteer support in 2008 received a book. Recognition items included individual volunteer certificates, and volunteers at the reception received a bookmark. Volunteers with 100+ hours of service received a lapel pin. Volunteers celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 year service anniversaries also received ribbons on their certificates.
Karen Bosch Cobb, County Librarian, was this year’s mistress of ceremonies. Karen read branch volunteer names, and volunteers went to the podium to receive their certificates and recognition items.
Three volunteers with exceptional hours were also recognized: Wes Leverson, 668 hours, Talking Book Library; Mary Lou Talens, 651 hours, California History and Genealogy Room, Central Library; Larry Harmon, 645 hours, California History and Genealogy Room, Central Library.
Many thanks to Library staff who sent in poetry and quotes about their volunteers and those who came out to the event to support their volunteers. We share some of their prose here:
Volunteers have the
Opportunity to give the
Library their
Unique and much
Need
Talents.
Each and
Everyone is a
Reward.
-- Janice Gillaspy
Our volunteers are special
People with huge, huge hearts
They come in to help
And they are really quite smart
They sort the books and tidy the shelves
We feel like they are our little elves.
They zip around the library doing their thing,
Sorting, shelving, and even holds searching
Our patrons love them as much as we do
They talk with them and laugh with them
And even trade book reviews.
There is not much more that I can say
But that our volunteers really
Know how to make our day!
-- Auberry Branch Staff
Work feels vintery bright,
Fear dissolves mintery light,
Children’s rapt eyes leave picture pages.
No wire, briar or falling tears.
To shore the breach flock volunteers.
Merrily sauntering off mid-story,
Hide and Seek by Wells, Rosemary,
One child starts east, the other west.
Hurray to hip volunteer’s clever knack
For coaxing ‘em back in time for snack.
--Abby Rivera
Special thanks goes to Jane Alchian, Faythe Arredondo, Roberta Barton, Gina Becker, Linda Calandra, Karen Bosch Cobb, Micheal Criado, Teresa Hurtado Catering, Deborah Janzen, Amy Johnson, Jeanne Johnson, Kathleen Kenslow, Maintenance Staff, Becky Matli, Darlene Morse, Patricia Pondexter, Jill Potter, Melissa Scroggins, Wayne Steffen, Terry Sterling, Support Services Staff, Rick Xiong, Woodward Library Staff and the following Woodward Park Teen Council Members: Jordan Ayers, Jennifer Brown, Leanne Cheng, Leyla Farshidpour, Paige Getty, Janette Kim, Noreen Mansuri, Matthew Guekguezian, Rahul Nunna, Nick Rafidi and J.V. Villarreal.
The day began with crafts in DGR: The shakers made plenty of noise and were ready just in time to make rhythm when Teocalli, amazing Folklorico dancers, performed in the Sarah McCardle room.
Just last week it was announced - Lucia's book The Storyteller's Candle / la velita de los cuentos was named an Honor book of the 2009 Jane Addams Children's Book Awards.
The possibility of a rainy day could not stop the celebration and a great time was had by all! 
