Longtime West Hartford Library Volunteer Honored With Citation

West Hartford Public Library volunteer Ruth Merblum was honored by state Sen. Beth Bye Wednesday, surrounded by Library Director Patricia Holloway and members of the library staff. 

Bye presented Merblum, a West Hartford resident, with special citations from Gov. Dannel Malloy and the General Assembly recognizing her for 26 years volunteering at the library, according to a release from the library. During her time as a volunteer, Merblum worked 2 to 3 hours a week and helped to provide interlibrary loan service, enabling users to borrow books from libraries around the state and around the country, the release said. 

Merblum has also helped in many ways over the years, according to the release, including maintaining files, preparing monthly statistical reports and learning to use the computerized catalog system. Much of her time has been spent searching out books “hiding” on library shelves, a challenge she enjoys.

“Along the way, Ruth, who will celebrate her 95th birthday in July, has been a wonderful role model, mentor, and good friend in addition to being, always, an awesome volunteer," her supervisor, Carol Sonne said.