Librarian Shirley Burden with Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail
HANCEVILLE – On Friday afternoon, the Hanceville Public Library dedicated its expanded reading room, naming it in honor of Librarian Shirley Burden, a longtime proponent of children's reading programs. Burden was recognized at a surprise reception planned by library board members Joann Walls and Margaret Cowart, and held at the library.
"Shirley's worked so hard to improve the children's reading program," said Walls. "She suggested to the mayor that if we could enlarge the room, we could have more children. Of course, the mayor wanted to do that, so he got on it. Rusty Fields, our Public Works director, got his crew here and they built it. She worked so hard to plan it, the mayor wanted to name it after her."
Mayor Kenneth Nail issued the following official proclamation:
"Whereas, Ms. Shirley Burden grew up about two miles from Hanceville on Beech Grove Road on the Basinger Farm; and
Whereas, Ms. Burden attended the first through twelfth grade at Hanceville School; and
Whereas, Ms. Burden was married to the late Mr. Curtis Burden on March 30, 1955; and
Whereas, the Burdens worked in the ministry for over forty years; and
Whereas, Mr. & Ms. Burden had one child, Greg Burden, on December 23, 1955; and
Whereas, Ms. Shirley Burden has two grandchildren and three great grandchildren; and
Whereas, Ms. Burden has served as a librarian for the Hanceville Library for thirteen years; and
Whereas, all the citizens in Hanceville love Shirley Burden
Now, therefore, It is my pleasure as Mayor of the City of Hanceville, and on behalf of the Hanceville City Council and Citizens, to honor Ms. Shirley Burden by the dedication of the Shirley Burden Reading Room located in the Hanceville Library on this the 27th day of January 2017."
In the new and improved reading room, Burden explained that the expansion took in a small sitting room next to the existing reading room, creating a single larger space that could hold a larger number of kids. Regular weekly reading events on Wednesdays see small groups, but the library's summer reading program can see up to 30 children in attendance.
Of the honor given her by the City, Burden said, "It was a shock to me. I appreciate it and all that, but I'm not wanting recognition. I want people to know that we have a lot of activities at the library: we have movies, books, internet; and we'd be glad for any of them to come visit."
The Hanceville Library has storytime in the Shirley Burden Reading Room Wednesday mornings at 10. On the first Wednesday of each month, when schools dismiss early, the time is moved to 2 p.m. to allow school aged kids to come. In addition to the story, kids also get snacks and do crafts.
Walls concluded about her friend and Hanceville's librarian, "Everyone loves her. Everyone depends on Shirley to help them with the computer work. She loves everybody; so, in turn, everybody can't help but love her."
The Hanceville Library is a part of the Cullman County Public Library System. It is located at 200 Commercial Street SE in Hanceville. Find out more at http://www.ccpls.com/branches/hanceville.html.
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