Hurlburt Field Library declared a winner ... twice!

Published Sept. 22, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Victoria Brayton
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Thanks to its excellence and innovation in support of the mission and its customers, the Hurlburt Field Library accomplished a feat that no other library can claim. In the same year, it was recognized as the Air Force library of the year and the federal library of the year.

The library was named the 2008 Air Force Library Program of the Year as well as the 2008 Federal Library/Information Center of the Year in the small library/information center category (10 or fewer federal and/or contract employees).

The federal award is selected by the Federal Library and Information Center Committee, an arm of the Library of Congress, to recognize outstanding, innovative and sustained achievements during the fiscal year.

Library Director Vicky Stever said military libraries do not frequently win the federal award.

Only one other Air Force library has won the award--Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in 2004.

"I think what sets us apart is that we're always looking for something new," Ms. Stever said. "We're looking for something different, looking to surprise customers, to give them new programs and give them things they never thought they'd get at a library."

According to Ms. Stever, the library served 10,000 registered customers and logged almost 102,000 visits in 2008. It also partnered with numerous other services on base to host events such as Discover Finance and the Library Fitness Cycle Marathon Challenge, where customers were challenged to keep the wheels of two stationary bikes moving while reading or listening to audio books for every hour the library was open during a two-week period.

"We love to be in partnering events. They get us out of the confines of what people think a library is," Ms. Stever said. "We want to be everywhere the people are."

The FLICC noted the library's stellar customer care in person and through its information portal, which simplified access for almost 7,500 active-duty personnel. The award also recognized the staff's efforts to improve quality of life and boost morale for all its customers.

The FLICC said the library "excels in being effective, versatile and dedicated to the customer."

Ms. Stever also emphasized the dedicated service and positive attitude of the eight library employees. She said everyone loves what they do and shares that love with their customers.

"There's a lot of laughter and happiness in this building and people are always smiling," she said. "People come in because they know we're going to make them feel good."

Senior Airman Ryan Ison, a radio maintainer for the 1st Special Operations Communications Squadron, uses the library for its broad choice of study materials for his college classes, and said the staff's service is always exceptional.

"I think they've always been positive and professional, which makes this such a great place to visit," he said.
Ms. Stever will accept the award at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 22. The award consists of a plaque and certificate for the library.

"We would do what we do whether or not anyone noticed," she said. "But it's nice to have the recognition."