Achi news desk-
The Calgary Public Library is celebrating three special volunteers who have been lending a helping hand for over 50 years.
Carolyn Arrell, 83, Norma High School, 91, and Nellie Befus, 96, all began volunteering in the organization’s Homebound Reader program in 1974, bringing books to people unable to visit the library themselves because of their health. .
Befus says she was the first one to sign up to help distribute books.
“I don’t drive, so I walked, took transit, rode my bike,” he said. “You have a basket or something and stick (the books) in there.
“I was very proud that I could do this, and when I started, I never thought I would do it for 50 years. I enjoyed every bit, I never had one nasty person no crazy (person) or anything very good.”
In 1998, the library began tracking the number of hours people volunteered and calculated that the three women had put in more than 5,700 hours of service.
“When Nellie started, she was one of the original five,” said Chelsea Murray, the library’s program and volunteer planning manager.
“She was really invested in this program and in volunteering.”
On Tuesday, the Calgary Public Library celebrated the women by presenting them with 50th anniversary awards.
“We came out to see all of them in their homes, we brought them flowers,” Murray said.
“We put some stories up in our library news about them, on our Instagram stories, and really try to (share) their stories and hear what they’ve experienced volunteering with the library.”
Befus lives at Aspen Lodge in northeast Calgary and now runs the Library in Residence program there. Every few months, library staff drop off books and she makes sure that residents get what they are looking for.
“I sit over here, open the doors and people come up to get library books and I sign them,” said Befus. “I got cards for every person who wants a book.”
Befus has been running the Aspen Lodge library for 12 years and admits that there aren’t as many people signing books as before, because many are reading on their tablets, including her.
She says now it’s time to let someone else take over.
“That’s it, I’m sorry, but I’ll help the new woman who’s coming to get started,” he said. “I’m not that good anymore and I get so tired.”
The Calgary Public Library is always looking for people to volunteer.
“If anyone wants to volunteer, we’d love for them to apply,” Murray said.
“We have so many programs that people can volunteer for, there is something for everyone, something to match skills, interest, location… and we really welcome anyone to apply.”
In 2023, the Calgary Public Library saw more than 2,400 volunteers who gave over 48,000 of their time to support its various programs.
To learn more you can visit the Calgary Public Library website.
