Cockeysville Library Celebrates Volunteers

volunteers feasted on deviled eggs, macaroni and cheese and deli meats Thursday at a celebratory luncheon honoring them for their commitment to the branch. 

“Every year we have a party for the volunteers to thank them for what they do,” said Judy Tinker, a librarian who coordinates the volunteers.

The two main jobs volunteers perform are reserving books or media for Cockeysville patrons and sending items out to other branches.  

Lois Richter, who has volunteered at the library for the past decade, works in reserves.

“I wanted to contribute to the community and I love books,” Richter said. “The people here are wonderful and appreciative.”

Janet Jeffereys, a five-year volunteer, has the unique duty of selecting “the best” books to display around the library. Jeffereys previously worked as a librarian for 37 years in Atlanta and Boston.

“I love it,” Jeffereys said. “I always look forward to coming here. I probably get more out of it than the library does.”

Librarian Carolyn Nicoll said she is grateful for Jeffereys’ commitment.

“She does such a good job,” Nicoll said. “She knows what people like. The books she select fly off the shelves.”

The Baltimore County Public Library system has 316 volunteers who have donated 34,251 hours over the past year. Of this, the Cockeysville branch has 26 volunteers who have worked 2,800 hours.

“We depend on our volunteers and they do a fantastic job,” Tinker said.