Alpharetta Library Volunteers Win Awards

Two founding members of the Friends of the Alpharetta Library donated more than 1,000 hours of service to the . They were honored along with two other Alpharetta Library volunteers at the system's 22nd Volunteer Recognition Program held April 21 at the Central Library as part of National Volunteer Week.

Ben and Linda Statham, Barbara Mitchell and Kathleen Smith were honored at the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library’s recognition program  The Stathams and Ms. Mitchell, founding members of the Friends of the Alpharetta Library, received the 20-Year Service Awards for their on-going service to the branch.

 In addition, Ben Statham and Kathleen Smith received the Top Hour Volunteer awards, each donating more than 1,000 hours in 2011. This was the twelfth year in a row, Mr. Statham has received this award, having donated more than 16,000 hours to the library during his volunteer career. For Ms. Smith, it was the fourth year in a row that she has received the Top Hour Volunteer designation. Linda Statham received the President’s Call to Service Award for reaching a lifetime total of more than 4,000 hours of service to the library.

 These volunteers serve on the Board of the Friends of the Alpharetta Library and are main-stays of monthly book sales. Mr. Statham and Ms. Smith are co-chairs of the book sale. Ms. Mitchell serves as Membership Chair and Ms. Statham serves as Secretary/Treasurer.

These library volutneers eventually will get to help out at a brand new Alpharetta Library planned for the downtown City Center site. Cooper Carry, in association with Vines Architecture, has been chosen to design the library. A community meeting will be scheduled in the future for Alpharetta residents, just like what was held last week for East Roswell.

At the recognition event, the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System honored its 2,344 volunteers who donated 71,395 hours of service in 2011, valued at $1,426,607. One hundred forty-eight volunteers served more than 100 hours last year. The Presidential Service Award was presented to 22 young volunteers. Service pins were presented to volunteers who have served five, ten, fifteen and twenty years.

Presenting the volunteer awards were Stephanie Moody, Chair of the Library Board of Trustees; John Szabo, Library Director; John Eaves, Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and Joan Garner, Fulton County Commissioner for District 6.