Mary B. Smith - library volunteer emeritus

Thirty years volunteering in the Sisters Library is an extraordinary accomplishment, but for Mary B. Smith of Indian Ford, that is just the frosting on the cake; she got her beginning volunteering in the Lake Oswego Library over 50 years ago.

Smith was honored for her work at a library volunteer awards event last week.

When she was growing up, Mary's mother always took her and her sister to their local library to check out books, especially at the start of summer vacation. She loved books and reading so much that she actually set up a lending library in her home for neighborhood kids to enjoy. That experience gave her a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, plus put her on the path she loves in the Sisters library today.

Little did she know that volunteering was going to take her into the role of a professional librarian, but it did - and without going to college for a library degree.

After serving as a volunteer for two years at Lake Oswego, Mary heard that Catlin-Gabel, a prestigious private school in Portland, was looking for a librarian to run the library in the newly opened Lower School in Portland's West Hills. Mary applied, citing her time as a volunteer, librarian-in-training at Lake Oswego and her love of books - something that began at a very early age at home - and she was in.

The librarian position at Catlin-Gabel lasted for over 10 years, right up to the time she and husband Will retired and moved from the big city to a place in Tumalo in 1975. It only took a short time before Mary began missing her library contacts, which led her straight to the growing Bend Library, where she signed up as a volunteer, a job she did for over two years.

In 1978, Mary and Will got a little tired of the gravel road they lived on, electricity going off at unexpected times, and decided to move to Sisters. They liked the idea of good roads, fewer neighbors, and observed there was dependable electricity and a community library.

Times have changed since Mary began volunteering at the Sisters Library in October 1982. When she began, the library was in the historic library building located today behind what is now the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce office. In addition to moving books and checking books in and out in the old library, Mary also volunteered at night and closed the building by herself.

In those days, volunteers checked books and materials by hand to patrons, stamping dates on file cards; there were no computers.

When the next library was built, Mary kept volunteering, adding more years helping to reduce library personnel costs and assisting in expanded duties.

When the Deschutes Public Library System formed, things really began to happen. New libraries were built throughout the county, the present-day library in Sisters among them.

Everything went digital in the new library system, and volunteers became even more vital to the success of the libraries.

"Without our volunteers, we wouldn't be able to operate the libraries," said Todd Dunkelberg, current director of DPLS. "I'm so happy to keep coming to these volunteer awards celebrations each year, and enjoy seeing Mary B. Smith receive her well-earned awards."

Mary's lifelong love of books, libraries and library workers - coupled with her good health-has kept her volunteering. She recommends it to anyone wanting to broaden themselves, gain new experiences, and make new and everlasting friends.