01/31/2014
On January 31, Roberta Lynch, President of Friends of Wister Library and Wister Library’s Southeastern Public Library of System of Oklahoma board member, was awarded the first True Friends Award, an award designed and presented to a member of Friends of Wister Library who has exhibited outstanding service to the library and to library community. If ever there was a true library hero, or heroine in this case, it has to be Roberta Lynch. She and her late husband, W. T., moved to Oklahoma from the Fort Worth metro region seeking a quieter life and looking forward to retirement. She was a life-long educator and once she and W.T. were settled, she came out of retirement to work in several capacities at Fanshawe Schools. She and W.T. were both habitual readers and quickly discovered public libraries in LeFlore County. “Wister Library is a little gem, tucked away, that has the world of knowledge and information to offer to everyone, “said Roberta. “W. T. and I were always big readers and so it was natural that we began using the library. I just didn’t realize how involved in the library world I would eventually become,” she said with a smile.
“Let’s see,” said Wister Librarian Leslie Langley. “Roberta was one of the first members and presidents of Friends of Wister Library. In that capacity she oversaw quite a bit of change in the library and how we served the public. She spearheaded the library relocation plan and saw it to fruition. She spent hours and hours on floor plans, discussing ideas, at city council meetings, decorating, and then promoting the finished library. She is our greatest advocate and a living example of a life of continuous learning. When Representative James Lockhart created legislation in 2013 that gave every public library in Oklahoma library system’s board representation, Roberta was the most likely candidate to represent our library and community. She graciously accepted the challenge and is looking out for us very well”, said Langley. “This award is well-deserved and we are happy and proud that it is going to Roberta,” she said.
