Every year, the Missouri Library Association (MLA) recognizes library workers and trustees all across the state for what they’ve done on behalf of libraries and the communities they serve. We are so proud that four people associated with Daniel Boone Regional Library (DBRL) received awards this year. Congratulations to each of them for their contributions.
Patricia Powell
Recognizes an individual trustee for exemplary service to libraries in Missouri
Pat Powell’s journey as a DBRL trustee began in 1987, a time when Virginia G. Young herself was still serving on our board. Over the decades, Pat has embodied the spirit of service and commitment that this award honors. Her tenure on the board has been marked by a steadfast dedication to the library’s mission and its community.
Throughout her service, Pat has held every board officer position at DBRL, showcasing her versatility and deep understanding of the library’s operations and strategic needs. Her terms as regional board president in 1997-1998, 2007-2008 and 2013-2014, as well as her leadership as Boone County Library District president in 2001-2002, 2012-2013 and 2017-2018, are testaments to her unparalleled commitment and effective leadership.
Former DBRL director Melissa Carr said, “Pat participates fully in her role as a board member. She really takes her responsibilities seriously and wants to do what is best for the community. She wants to make sure DBRL provides services throughout our region, regardless of where our patrons live. Over the years, she has been involved with evaluating possible new service points and adding physical locations in both Ashland and Holts Summit. She supported the addition of Library-To-Go lockers in Hallsville and Holts Summit, and the addition of a second bookmobile that travels to child care centers. She wants to make sure everyone has equal access to their library.”
Sherry McBride-Brown
Recognizes an individual outside of the library profession or a retired librarian who has made a significant contribution to libraries in Missouri.
Sherry McBride-Brown, a devoted and passionate advocate for libraries and literacy, retired from DBRL in December 2023 after an extraordinary 47 years of service. Her dedication to the community and her impactful contributions to the library system continued until her passing in January 2024.
Sherry began her career in 1976 as a library clerk assistant at the Callaway County Public Library in Fulton, Missouri. Throughout her career, she held numerous positions at libraries in Fulton, Columbia and Holts Summit, including public services associate and handling interlibrary loans. Encouraged to further her education, Sherry earned her master’s degree in library science from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Following this achievement, she joined DBRL’s Outreach Department staff, where her influence and passion for community service truly shone.
Pam Stone
Recognizes a library employee who has made a significant contribution to the improvement and advancement of library and information services
Pam Stone has been a library associate for Holts Summit Public Library (HSPL), a branch of Daniel Boone Regional Library, since it opened in March of 2019. This year, HSPL celebrated its five-year anniversary. In those years, Pam has worked tirelessly to connect with the people around her, from the young patron getting their first library card to the neighboring business or organization that could become a potential partner. Pam has established ties with the Missouri State Museum to bring in programming, dressed as Wonder Woman to participate in Trunk or Treat events and created beautiful displays to create a warm and welcoming environment for this small, rural community.
As dedicated as Pam is to helping patrons find the books they need or navigate a website, her compassion and empathy are the driving force behind every interaction. Pam is someone who will notice when a patron is in need and help connect them to our community resource manager. She will take the time to reach out to a shy child and offer an activity sheet or a sticker, or help out a parent by redirecting a boisterous child to the read-along books.
Pam speaks highly of her time at the library. In a recent report to the library’s board of trustees, she said, “I am just as excited to engage with our patrons as I was on the first day we opened. I love to share our resources, promote our awesome programs and see the joy on our patrons’ faces. …I am grateful to do a small part in making a connection with our community. The smiles, words of appreciation and even homemade pictures from our kiddos are the things that keep me going, even on some of our harder days. I love that our community is growing and new patrons as well as beloved regulars continue to visit the library.”
Otter Bowman
Presented jointly by MLA and Amigos Library Services to an individual or individuals whose actions have led libraries to work better together and who exemplify the best efforts to reach out beyond his or her own institution to further multi-type library cooperation throughout the State of Missouri.
Otter Bowman has been on the front lines of the fight against legislation threatening to defund libraries and rules aiming to restrict Missourians’ right to read. As the Missouri Library Association’s president in 2023 and as a member of MLA’s intellectual freedom committee, Otter has been actively working with local communities, libraries of all kinds (public, school, academic), educators and advocacy groups to promote awareness of the threats to information access and the potential consequences of these regulations and legislation. In one particular example, Otter worked with MLA leadership to strengthen the organization’s relationship with the Missouri Association of School Librarians and to promote educational intellectual freedom sessions for library workers in Missouri and across the US.
Otter began their library career at DBRL in 2004, and eventually decided to pursue a master of library sciences degree. In July of this past year, Otter accepted a position as a librarian on the adult services team, and in this role coordinates the library’s participation in community events outside of the library’s walls. They have promoted public library services on our local campuses and reached out to a great number of community organizations to provide promotions, books and other library resources at events like Columbia College’s Health and Wellness Fair and “Hey Day” for incoming students; World Refugee Day; Unity in the Community Neighborhood Resource Fair; and many more.