Tuscarawas County Library celebrates National Library Week
The Volunteer of the Year award, presented annually by the Friends of the County Library, was given to Virginia “Jin” Cassady of Dover.
The Tuscarawas County Public Library System celebrated National Library Week with its annual breakfast, honoring this year’s Volunteer of the Year and unveiling its newly arrived bookmobile.
The Volunteer of the Year award, presented annually by the Friends of the County Library, was given to Virginia “Jin” Cassady of Dover. Cassady, a retired librarian, has assisted with book sales and special events, and attends nearly every library program. Over her 29 years in Dover, the 92-year-old has been a committed supporter of many local organizations.
She helped establish the Friends of the Library and the Book Cellar at the Dover Public Library and hosted the Money Cents investment group. She has also been active in New Philadelphia’s First Presbyterian Church, serving as Clerk of Session, and supports the Reeves Home, The Tuscarawas Philharmonic, The Little Theatre, the College Club and its book club, the genealogy library in Dennison, and Meals on Wheels.
Originally from Cleveland, Cassady earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Oberlin College, followed by two master’s degrees in library science, including one focused on special collections.
While a graduate assistant at New York’s Pratt Institute, she was tasked with cataloging 100 rare books—Incunabula—printed before 1500 and housed at the St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. “I had the extreme privilege of cataloging 100 of these books,” she said. “Amazingly, I had a Selectrix typewriter with a ball containing the necessary diacritical marks. I actually got to touch and read those books. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Cassady’s personal home library includes more than 7,700 books, all cataloged. In addition to her volunteer work, she enjoys crocheting, completing jigsaw puzzles, playing piano, gardening and reading—often working through three books at a time. She and her late husband, Bob, were married in 1956 and had two sons, Ken and Steve. Bob passed away in 2002.
The library’s celebration also included the opening of its new bookmobile, a 24.5-foot Mercedes Sprinter, the ninth bookmobile in the system’s 75-year history. It was delivered April 10 after years of planning, fundraising and grant writing.
Library Director Michelle McMorrow Ramsell said the vehicle enhances mobile services, which provide materials to residents and students who may not be able to visit the main library in New Philadelphia or branches in Bolivar, Strasburg, Sugarcreek or Tuscarawas.
The vehicle features built-in Wi-Fi with dual-carrier switching, a lift, an awning, a checkout station, flexible shelving and a custom exterior wrap.
“The new vehicle blends the best of both worlds for us,” said Assistant Director Brian Herzog. “It is smaller, making it easier to move around the county, but still allows customers to get in and browse and select their own materials.”
Mobile Services Supervisor Lacy Bartley added, “Flexible shelves will allow us to detach and roll them into schools, nursing homes or retirement centers so customers can browse and select materials without getting into the bookmobile.”
The bookmobile will begin visiting schools and community stops throughout April and May. It will also appear at all of the library system’s Summer Reading Kickoff events, as well as on opening day of the Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market on June 4.