Volunteer Spotlight November 2026

Q: What inspired you to volunteer with the library?

A:Volunteering had been on my mind for months before applying to the Citrus County Library System. I made a list of my personal interests and community organizations that I felt emotionally aligned with. Of course, I enjoy reading. As a teen, I worked for a library through a teen work grant program. I have good memories of working at that library and it is one of the organizations in the community that I use. So it just made sense to volunteer. I have been doing it for a few months. Maybe it makes me feel young again!

Q: Has volunteering changed how you see the library?

A: When the library holds its monthly meetings, I try to attend on YouTube. I am always impressed by the full monthly schedules of offerings for all ages. Our local library’s role as a community resource for everyone is clear. When the newsletter is published, I like to look at the calendar and add items of interest to mine. Volunteering has not changed how I see the library. It has confirmed my belief that it is an important and necessary component of our community.

Q: What is something you would say to encourage someone else to volunteer?

A: If you are looking for an organization to devote a couple of hours of your time each week, enjoy being around books and in the hushed buzz of a library, this is the perfect volunteer opportunity. The application process is painless. It is probable that the volunteer coordinator at your preferred location is just as welcoming as Faith at the Homosassa Library was. She made it very easy for me to jump right in. Everyone has been friendly and easy to work with. I feel that volunteering in Citrus County has never been more important, considering the possibility of decreased revenue in the near future. Aside from that, it just feels good to contribute to something so vital to our community. And I was surprised by how much I remembered about the shelving protocol! So don’t hesitate.

Q: Who is your favorite author?

A: Mary Oliver is my favorite author, with “A Thousand Mornings” being my favorite book of hers. Recently, I discovered a contemporary author similar to Mary Oliver, Walt Whitman, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Maria Popova writes about waking to the natural world, our connection to it, and the beauty of ordinary life. If you enjoy books about the meaning of being alive, then check her out and then check the book out of the library!

Q: Other than volunteering, what do you do with your free time?

A: I never could relate to folks who say they would not know what to do with their time once they retire. I always have a home project in the works. Currently, I am focused on designing a Floridafriendly landscaped yard. I participated in classes offered by the University of Florida at the Extension Office in Lecanto. My goal is to have a yard that uses little water, fertilizer, or pesticides. I’ve had a lot of fun looking through the workbook provided to find the “right plant for the right place”. AI has also been helpful in helping to design and calculate the number of plants needed.
 
One of the best reasons to live in Florida is the ability to be active outside all year. The Withlacoochee Rail Trail is close by and provides a great place to ride my bike and walk my dogs. I have two Standard Poodles, Thelma and Louise, named by Citrus County Animal Services after they were trapped. Feral and fearful, I adopted them in December of 2020. They’ve been trained and loved a lot since!

Q: Do you volunteer anywhere else in the community?

A: Not yet, but I am looking at opportunities. Some that interest me are the City of Inverness, Daystar, Habitat for Humanity, and the Community Food Bank. I want time to settle into the library before committing to another. There are many needful and worthy charities in our county. The benefit of volunteering is the good feeling of donating time to the needs of the community. Starting with the Citrus County Library System was a good start for me.