NEWTON, N.C. — Officials with the North Carolina Public Library Directors Association (NCPLDA) say Sylvia King has been awarded the Library Friend of the Year 2020 for her volunteer work with the Catawba County Library.
Sylvia King
Officials say King retired from teaching and has worked as the treasurer of the Catawba County Friends of the Library for thirteen years.
NCPLDA officials say the award recognizes community engagement, mentorship, and impact on the community, library staff, and the library profession, and is presented yearly to an individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership.
King started her work with the Catawba County Friends of the Library in 2007 when a group of library supporters came together to reestablish an inactive Friends group, and although the role was intended to rotate among volunteers, King stepped up consistently to help, officials say.
Friends of the Library President Susan Anderson says “Sylvia is amazing. Whenever there is a need for something, by the time you describe it, Sylvia will already have it done.”
Officials say King works closely with library staff as a treasurer and through fundraising efforts, the Friends of the Library sponsored all of the library’s paid performers for the annual Summer Learning program, prizes, and promotional materials.
The Friends also funded Beanstack, an online platform that helps users track their reading challenges, according to a news releases.
Since the start of the pandemic, officials say the Catawba County Library was well equipped to transition to an online format in order to help families to continue to learn and read from home.
Officials say this past March, when the library closed, King was one of two Friends who still handed out book donations, and since the library reopened to the public in May, King has ensured the ongoing book sales at various library branches remain stocked.
King has logged over 250 hours in the library this year, sorting through book donations, maintaining the Friends’ bank account, and processing payments to the library for online programming, software, and promotional items, according to a news release.
Officials say King has been instrumental in encouraging members to continue meeting via Zoom in order to keep the group moving forward.
King drives community engagement and advocacy by speaking for the library at Catawba County Board of Commissioners meetings and municipal council meetings, officials say.
NCPDLA officials say King writes letters and makes calls to state and local representatives to promote the library and its initiatives, and when the library welcomes visitors to its annual Day in the District programs she speaks, hosts display tables, shares refreshments, and supports the event with funding from the Friends.
King also tracks purchases, records sales, and maintains inventory on a regular basis to sell convenient items to guests in order to enhance their experience with the library, according to a news release.
Friends officials say “In addition to her support of the library, King volunteers with the North Carolina Extension & Community Association in a variety of capacities: serving as secretary of the executive board of the county’s ECA chapter, sewing camisoles for women living with breast cancer, and making baby quilts, lap robes, and animal beds for the ECA’s Catawba Angels group. She also volunteers at Red Cross blood drives, with Meals on Wheels, and with Project Linus, making and donating quilts. King is an avid home gardener as well.”
