Sue says her passion for reading led her to the committee naturally. “I read and read and read,” she says. “I’ve worked in libraries in my church, and the public library when my children were growing up in Bellaire. I love reading and I wanted to give something back.
“The biggest bonus is making friends with other members of the community. We are like a family. I really like being a part of the place. You have to put out an effort to be a part of it, but this has been wonderful. And, we’ve all gotten to know each other.”
Marilyn also credits Claire Ashley with being one of the first advocates for the group. “She has been gung-ho since the beginning, putting in hours and hours.”
Everyone Finds a Shelf, er, Niche
“We were certainly glad to have Nora,” comments Marilyn, “because in the beginning when we were typing all the labels, she was our star typist.”
“And now, she has a new job,” Donna chimes in gleefully. “She does plastic covers better than any human being we’ve found.”
Robert, who was challenged to join the group after he kept offering suggestions, is the designated IT person. “The printer only talks to Robert,” says Marilyn, “and half the time, the computer is the same way.”
“My daughter is the director of the library for the Art Institute of Houston,” he says. “So I’ve been able to supplement knowledge of the real process.” Another computer whiz is Ruth Herman. “I love the computer. I love Excel [computer spreadsheet program] above everything else. So, I thought that this was where I could contribute. I’m up to about 1,800 entries—and that’s not counting the videos or the paperbacks.”
“And don’t forget R.C. Moore,” says Marilyn. “He has been with us since the beginning—always willing to take on anything and always in good spirits.”
Marilyn, as the only professional librarian in the group, is described as the brains. “She’s the brains, we’re the brawn,” says Donna.
Catalogue This
The volunteers have defined two goals for the library: 1) to set up as professional a library as possible so the facility will have a solid foundation, and 2) to target the needs of the population and provide with appropriate services.
To that end, says Donna, the following projects are in the works:
• Talking books. The Eagle’s Trace Library hopes to soon become a demo station for audio books, providing access to 80,000 books on tape that can be sent by mail.
• New titles. The group is working with the Harris County Library to offer a selection of newly published books on a monthly basis.
• Magnifying reader. A magnifying reader can be indispensable to aid in reading not only literature, but also mail, prescriptions, checkbooks,and more.
Open a New Chapter
“We’re proud of our work so far. But part of the joy in the volunteering is finding a place for yourself,” says Marilyn. “People can’t just sit in their apartments. You get out as much as you put in—and, as you can tell, we have a great time.”