The Jackson-George Regional Library System held the 32nd Annual Volunteer Awards Reception at the Pascagoula Public Library on Tuesday, February 13. The theme was “Volunteers Love Our Libraries” with over 110 in attendance.

Along with a luncheon, the volunteers attending from the nine branch libraries received a certificate recognizing their service and a chance for door prizes. The guest speaker for the event was Mississippi Library Commission Executive Director Hulen Bivins.  

Awards were presented to the following: Rita Krebs Genealogy Volunteer of the Year was given to MS Digital Library for their assistance in helping digitize collections for the genealogy library; the Mary Ann Louviere Youth Services Volunteer of the Year was presented to Aric Wirtz from the Ocean Springs Library with 181 hours of service.  The Flora S. Scholtes Volunteer of the Year was presented to Estelle Nettles from the Moss Point Library with 290 hours of service.

The Friends of the Pascagoula Public Library won the Friends of the Library 2019 award which was presented by Library Director Lori Barnes.  This award is given for outstanding support for Friends projects, program sponsorships, fundraising efforts, and membership drives for the library.

“Volunteers donated nearly 8,000 hours of service to the library system for 2018 and is the equivalent of more than four full-time employees,” said library director Lori Barnes. “We couldn’t do all we do without them,” she said.

See photos on the library Facebook page - JacksonGeorgeLibrary or visit the library website at www.jgrls.org for more information about Friends groups and locations.

Photographs by Rex Bridges

Submitted by

Rex Bridges

Public Relations & Marketing Manager

Jackson-George Library System