Longtime volunteer: 'I've met some beautiful people'

When an employee reaches a career milestone of 10, 15, or 25 years, it’s a pretty big deal. Imagine volunteering for an organization for 25 years! That is exactly what Marge Thomas has done at the Sandpoint Library.

When Marge retired from IBM, she wanted to use her time to finally give back to her community after working full time for several decades. Upon moving to Sandpoint with her husband, she started volunteering for the food bank. As a library patron, she saw the need for volunteers at The Library, too.

“They needed help,” she said.

She began with shelving books and processing holds and has taken on other responsibilities throughout the years.

Marge continues to serve as a regular volunteer at The Library and still volunteers at the food bank as well as St. Joseph’s soup kitchen.

“I’ve met some beautiful people,” she said when I asked her what makes her want to give of her time this way.

If you would like to volunteer at The Library, we have many roles to suit different interests. We currently have an immediate need for Tech Tutors. If you know your way around smart phones, computers, and other devices, you may qualify to be a Tech Tutor. We provide training, scheduling, and support. Appointments are usually one hour long and tailored to your schedule.

Maybe you can’t yet commit to a 25-year stint like Marge has done, but anything you can do is guaranteed to be rewarding and appreciated. For more information about volunteer opportunities at The Library, call Annette Ander-son at 263-6930 ext. 1281.

The following classes and events take place at the East Bonner County Library District Sand-point Branch, 1407 Cedar St. unless otherwise indicated. The monthly calendar can be viewed at ebonnerlibrary.org.

East Bonner

County Library District schedule

• Fridays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Saturdays — Bookmobile at Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Farmin Park. Browse books, movies, and music. Sign up for a library card. Pick up holds (reserved materials) or return items. Chat with Michelle, our friendly bookmobile driver. Bookmobile will be at the Farmer’s Market every Saturday through the season. Information: 208-290-3622.

- Saturdays — Little Mozarts Music Class, 10:30 a.m., a music class series at The Library from the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint. Program runs through Aug. 3. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211.

- Saturdays — Explore Virtual Reality (reserve sessions), 2-4 p.m. Reserve a 15-minute session in the new VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Tuesdays — Mother Goose, 10 a.m., in Karen’s Room. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 years old and their caregivers with stay & play until 10:40 a.m. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or email suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Clark Fork Mother Goose, 10 a.m., Clark Fork branch library. Stories, rhymes and music for babies and toddlers and their caregivers followed by 20 minutes of play times. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Tuesdays — Family Story Time, 11 a.m. in Karen’s Room. Stories and crafts for kids and their caregivers. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Storytime, 11 a.m., Clark Fork branch library. Stories, music, and crafts geared to ages 3-8. All welcome. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Tuesday, July 30 — Magic show, 2 p.m., East Bonner County Library District’s Clark Fork branch library, 601 Main St. Cecil Lewis wows us with some space-themed magic. Part of the 2019 Summer Reading Challenge “A Universe of Stories.” Sign up at ebonnerlibrary.org. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Tuesdays — Explore virtual reality (drop-in sessions), 3-6 p.m., drop-in 15-minute sessions. First come, first served. All ages welcome. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Youth under 10 years old must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Tuesdays — Teen Role Playing Games, 3:30-5 p.m. in Laura Moore Cunningham Community Room A. Teens play Magic the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and other role playing games. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or email kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesday, July 30 ­— Magic show, 6 p.m., East Bonner County Library District’s Sandpoint branch library, 1407 Cedar St. Cecil Lewis wows us ith some space-themed magic. Part of the 2019 Summer Reading Challenge “A Universe of Stories.” Sign up at ebonnerlibrary.org. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Thursday, Aug. 1 — Thursdays in the Garden,10 a.m., in The Library Garden. Learn about planting, growing, and harvesting. Enjoy a different project theme each week such as insect safari, scavenger hunt, wind chimes, and garden wildlife habitat houses. Geared to ages 6-9 and families. Learn how to qualify for a metal watering can! Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturday, Aug. 3 — Sandpoint Friends of the Library Book Sale, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Support your library while supporting your book habit.

- Mondays through Fridays — Teen Lounge, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; open weekly to 7th-12th graders from any school/homeschol. Info: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org or 208-263-6930, ext. 1245.

- StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. StoryWalk books will be updated at various times during the summer with titles based on the 2019 Summer Reading theme, “Universe of Stories.” Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, visit Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208- 208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.