WCDPL Press Releases
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April 13, 2011. Friends of the Library Volunteer Award Goes to BG Youngster
Matthew Pisarski, a seventh grade student at the Bowling Green Middle School, likes to help whenever he can.
And a major benefactor of his willingness to offer his services is the Wood County District Public Library where he has been a volunteer for the past three years, working first in Children’s Services and currently helping in the Circulation area.
In fact, he has become something of a fixture at the library, showing up to help on Saturdays as well as some Sundays and Tuesday evenings.
So it’s not surprising that the Friends of the Library has recognized his efforts by presenting him its Volunteer of the Year Award.
“The staff thinks very highly of Matthew. He is quite a bit younger than most volunteers but his attention to detail, enthusiasm and energy led to several of the staff nominating him for this award,” said Barbara Ruland, president of the Friends.
“Volunteers play an important role at the library, especially the past few years because of the tight budget. The Friends recognizes the contributions of volunteers and that’s why this award was initiated,” she added.
Pisarski started his volunteering in Children’s Services helping organize the many programs offered to youngsters. “He has spent a lot of time in this area and has been quite helpful in supporting our programs,” said Maria Simon, head of youth services. “He is reliable and is a quick learner and knows where everything is kept and is very helpful to the staff,” she added.
Lately his volunteer efforts have been used in Circulation Services packing books to be shipped to other libraries as part of the inter-library loan program and sorting books and videos that are come into the library.
“ He definitely makes a difference when he comes in to work,” said Matt Mehling, who works in Circulation. “We like his energy. He is a quick learner and likes to stay busy.”
Matthew’s mother, Kristina Olinger, said her son likes to keep busy. “He just likes to help. He got interested in the library because his older sister, Sara and a sophomore at the high school, was a volunteer there,” she said.
In addition to the library, young Pisarski is heavily involved in Boy Scouts where has achieved the rank of Star and is aiming to be an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in scouting. “When he becomes an Eagle, he will be the fourth generation in our family to achieve that rank,” Olinger said.
At the Middle School he is on the tennis team and honor roll and also serves as an acolyte at St. Marks Church.
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