For her willingness to help and her years of faithful service to the Kewanee Public Library, Carla Hilman has recently been awarded the title of “Volunteer of the Year” by the Friends of the Library. The honor was announced at the Friend’s annual meeting on Oct. 13.
Barbara Morrison, board member for Friends, said that for many years, Hillman has been a very reliable volunteer for the library, taking on whatever needs to be done and giving of her time willingly. She’s a fixture at the library, making frequent appearances there.
“She’s done this for quite a few years,” said Morrison, “and we just thought it was time to thank her.”
For her part, Hillman said she was thankful for the award and believes the library to be one of the most important assets in the community.
“I have visited libraries from a young age, and I want others to have the opportunities I have had,” she said, noting that today’s libraries offer even more services. “There was a time when libraries mainly had only books and magazines.”
Because the library is so essential, Hillman said she has volunteered to help out with activities like the annual book sale during Hog Days, that raises money for things the library needs.
“I have attended meetings on many topics that the library hosted,” she said. “As a member of the League of Women Voters of Kewanee, I have assisted in arranging some co-sponsorships of some meetings and activities such as voter registration.”
Hillman is a member of the Friends of the Library, an organization she joined in the 1980s. It played a major role in her volunteer work for the library.
“I believe I would have helped with book sales and voter registration from the beginning,” she said. “In the 1990s, I was on the board and then was president,” Hillman said.
She remembers the library before it was renovated. Most rooms were not for patrons’ use, she said. The basement had a few rooms of books on shelves that the Friends of the Library stored for the book sales. While she was president, the board had the books evaluated to see if any were valuable. While they didn’t find a rare book, they did see some more than the usual book sale prices.
Hillman said the local library is a place for people to learn, relax and meet others of all ages that they might otherwise not meet.
“I encourage others to volunteer at the library in small or big ways,” said Hillman.
