Washoe County Library volunteers to be honored

SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE

RENO, Nev. — Thirty-nine of Washoe County Library System’s most dedicated volunteers will be honored at a Library Board of Trustees meeting this month. They will be the first to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award which recognizes individuals, families and groups that have achieved a certain standard, measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period. The board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 21, at 4 p.m. at Sparks Library, 1125 12^th St.

The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President’s Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.

Washoe County Library System recently became a certifying organization for the award. Silver awards will be given to adults who contributed between 250 and 499 hours of service in 2009. Bronze awards will be presented to volunteers in three age groups:  Children 14 and under who contributed between 50 & 74 hours of service in 2009; young adults who contributed between 100 & 174 hours; and adults who contributed between 100 & 249 hours.

Award recipients will be given an official President’s Volunteer Service Award lapel pin; a personalized certificate of achievement; and a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States. The presentation takes place during national Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 19-25.

The library system has a total of more than 100 volunteers who contributed 10,521 hours of service in 2009, helping with general library operations, computer and technical issues, materials preparation and repair, and programs. In addition, more than 140 Friends of Washoe County Library volunteers dedicated 12,772 hours of service – everything from coordinating booksales and running the Second Hand Prose Bookstore to basic administrative tasks.

For information on becoming a Washoe County library volunteer, log on to www.washoecountylibrary.us/support.html.  To learn about Friends of Washoe County Library see http://www.washoelibraryfriends.org.