Submitted by the San Juan Island Library

Sunday, April 21 marks the beginning of National Volunteer Week 2024, during which the San Juan Island Library will join communities and libraries across the nation to gratefully acknowledge the profound impact of volunteerism.

On Friday, April 26 at noon the library invites the community to a reception in the Main Salon to celebrate and honor the exceptional contributions of those talented, dedicated, hardworking islanders who are our friends, neighbors, and loved ones who generously donate their time and expertise to support literacy, education, and community engagement.

The public is invited to sign a large community card for library volunteers, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, and listen to short remarks given by the Library Assistant Director, Anthony Morris and members of the Library Board of Trustees.

“I love working with our volunteers! I’m always impressed by the hard work, creativity, and mindfulness they put into their work, and we couldn’t run our library without them. We all have a lot of fun together, and I’m so grateful for all the time and care they give to us,” said Anthony Morris, Assistant Director.

Since 1977 more than 350 volunteers have assisted with over 33 jobs at the library, from alphabetizing books to zipping around with carts and everything in between, including serving as the Library’s Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library.

San Juan Island Library is a vital community resource dedicated to promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and cultural enrichment. Through its diverse collection of books, programs, and services, the library is a hub for community engagement on San Juan Island. For more information, please contact Gabriel Méndez at gmendez@sjlib.org or visit www.sjlib.org.