Crook County library official wins state recognition
According to the Oregon Library Association, the Library Employee of the Year Award is given to a library employee who provides excellent service and shows leadership, initiative, and willingness to share skills.
In her 18 years at Crook County Library, Circulation Services Manager Cindy York has done all those things and more – she’s been a bookmobile driver, an interlibrary loan maven, a technology wrangler, a confidante, a staff morale cheerleader, a (very occasional) barf cleaner-upper… and now, Oregon’s one and only Library Employee of the Year winner for 2017.
Cindy was nominated for the award in secret and given the news of her win at a surprise ceremony at Crook County Library on Thursday, April 6 . County Judge Seth Crawford, Commissioner Jerry Brummer and Cindy’s family were present for the “big reveal,” which included the presentation of a titanium spork by library director Buzzy Nielsen (“because Cindy is unbreakable and does everything,” explained Nielsen). On Friday, April 21 , she will formally receive the Library Employee of the Year Award at the Oregon Library Association conference in Salem.
Cindy York first came to Crook County Library as a temporary desk clerk in 1999. Her skills in customer service and her extensive knowledge of the local community were immediately apparent, and she was quickly promoted to a full-time circulation assistant position. In 2010, past Library Director Camille Wood promoted Cindy to the position of Circulation Services Manager.
In letters to the Oregon Library Association’s Honors, Awards, and Scholarships Committee, past and current library and Crook County staff sang Cindy’s praises. “Cindy contributes to the library in hundreds of small ways each and every day,” said past Assistant Director Barratt Miller. Retired Library Director Camille Wood called out Cindy’s empathy and her strong connection to the community: “Patrons often asked for her, and she greeted many of them by name… her positive energy, great sense of humor, and fun spirit influenced me and others to see the glass as half full.”
“I’ve been in the library profession for over 20 years and am confident saying that Cindy York is among the best our profession has to offer,” said Nielsen. “She’s the glue that every library needs to hold it together.”
Located in central Prineville, Crook County Library provides traditional and innovative library resources and programming to Crook County residents of all ages. It is a place where people come together for lifelong learning, enjoyment, and connection. To learn more, visit us at www.crooklib.org .
