July 20, 2012 —
Twenty years of voluntary service—that’s what Helen Northcutt and Bob Wolfe have given collectively to the 23,582 citizens of Rowan County through their work as Rowan County Public Library Trustees.
Being a Rowan County Public Library Board member is not just a name on a letterhead.
The title carries the expectation of commitment for the provision of public library service of the highest quality to the people of Rowan County.
The library has been blessed to have many conscientious, caring board members since its creation in 1968, but none has served with more dedication than Helen and Bob.
As YOUR Rowan County Public Library began a period of unprecedented growth just over a decade ago, Board members were challenged by the need for additional services, materials and programs and by the necessity of increasing the number of hours and days the library was open.
By 2006, the board and staff recognized that the existing building was no longer adequate for the level of service that the folks in Rowan County needed and expected. Helen and Bob worked through the difficulties of meeting the public’s demands as the board first sought to build on to the existing library, then searched for available, affordable property in downtown Morehead, and finally, made the difficult decision to build a new library on Beacon Hill, with a $4.2 million construction grant from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.
As a result of extremely long board meetings (far more meetings than are required by law), an incredible number of phone calls and e-mails, and more decision making than one can imagine, public library service in Rowan County reached another milestone in 2010 with the completion of the new 17,000-square-foot facility on Beacon Hill Drive. Helen Northcutt, Board President, and Bob Wolfe, Board Vice President, have given of their time and energy far beyond the call of duty as they continued their work to move the library forward, ever vigilant to be good stewards of the public’s funding and trust.
There are many Kentucky Revised Statutes which regulate public library operation, including those statutes that determine how public libraries are formed and how they are governed.
Board members are recommended by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and are approved by the Fiscal Court. The library Board of Trustees has one employee—the Library Director. As the director, I often refer to the board members as “my five bosses.” I have been privileged to work with Helen and Bob for most of the years that I have been the library’s director. Their wisdom, guidance, and patience have taken me through many situations, both good and difficult. Not only have they been my bosses, but they have become dear lifelong friends.
It has been such an honor to share these “library years” with them. The library staff and I recognize, appreciate, and thank them for their selfless service and their continuing commitment to YOUR Rowan County Public Library.
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Related Photos
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Rowan County Public Library Board members: From left, John Ellis, Helen Northcutt, Bob Wolfe, Ryan Neff and Kay Freeland. Helen and Bob have rotated off the board after 20 collective years of service to the citizens of Rowan County.
Helen Northcutt and Bob Wolfe @ YOUR Rowan County Public Library
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