Shelly's Photos
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6/19: Jenny wrote... "Shelly, your library makeover will have a tremendous impact of the future of so many children. I am proud to be a part of something so vital to all children – reading."

6/19: Damon wrote... "Congratulations, Shelly! Thanks for everything you do for the children of Robeson County. They are so lucky to have you."

6/19: Bob Fisher wrote... "The children of Robeson County have benefited tremendously because you accepted the library’s offer to manage the Children’s Library. Your talent and initiative are evident on a daily basis but it is very obvious that you care for the children and teens of our county and want to make their life a little more pleasant and rewarding. We are proud that you are now one of Jenny’s Heroes because you are also a hero to hundreds of children in our county. Congratulations."

6/19: Horace Stacy wrote... "Shelly, you have given real life to the children's library program. We are most fortunate to have you. Keep up your spectacular work."

6/21: Pearl M. wrote... "I am very glad that you are a part of us at Robeson County Public Library. You have really made a big difference in the Children’s Department. Congratulations and keep up the Great Work!"
Pearl

6/21: Shirley Lane wrote... "Once again, you have proven yourself to be a talented, caring, thoughtful and dedicated person. You are totally committed to your job and each and every one of those children who walk through the doors of the Robeson County Libraries. During my current visit, I had the opportunity to go along with you to the different libraries. It amazed me to see all those faces light up when they saw you. They were so eager to participate in the activities and didn't want you to leave at the end of the session. Congratulations, you are their hero and are truly making a difference in their lives. I'm proud to be your mother."

6/24: Joan wrote... "Congratulations, Cheryl (Shelly). Your friend in Ohio is proud of you, almost as proud as your Mother. You deserve a feather in your hat, along with that sunflower. If you need one, will send you one of Paulie's. Keep up the good work. You will never know for years yet, how many lives you have touched."
Joan & Don Hamilton

6/24: Terri wrote... "Congratulations Shelly, to someone who really cares. Kids are the future, and reading is the foundation they need. Love your costumes too!"

6/26: Victoria wrote... "WOW Ms.Cheryl (Shelly). We sure miss you in Boca Raton, the library here has never been the same without you. But we are so so so so proud of you and your dedication to your job, to your kids, to your community. Hurray for Jenny's Heroes, for Robeson County library, and kudos to you for making these children's lives so much richer and better. You are a JEWEL!
Victoria and Natalie Macadar

6/27: Liz R. wrote..."Good for you Shelly for seizing the opportunity to improve the lives of the kids. I can only imagine the excitement of working with new things after struggling with the out-dated stuff."

7/05: Luis Aponte wrote... "Hey Shelly, Love the costume! It's great to see that you are still using your own flair to enhance the library programs up north. That is what made us miss you so much in the Boca Raton library! It's great to see your talents being put to so much great use. Sounds like you have a full plate to tackle and I can not think of a more worthy person to receive a grant to enhance what you are bringing to those children in Robeson County. Good luck, Shelly! You're a great inspiration for me!"

7/09: Valerie Fred wrote... "Hi Shelly, I was on Jenny’s Hero’s website filling out an application when I ran across your story. I was applying so I could help out Children with Hairloss which is an organization from where my 6 year old gets her free wigs. She has Alopeica Areata and is completely bald. Children with Hairloss, when they have the funds, provides free custom wigs to children anywhere in the world. Anyway, I read what you’ve done with the library to my daughters (6 and 9) and they immediately went to work looking for books they don’t read anymore. I have a box to send you if you’re interested in early reader books. Some are paperback, some are hardcover, varying subjects. If you don’t need them for the library, maybe you could let some of the kids take them for free. They’re in great condition. If you’re interested in receiving these books, please provide me with an address to which I can send them. Thanks!"

Meet Shelly Lane from Lumberton, North Carolina

We’re proud to welcome Shelly Lane as our newest hero. Shelly is the children’s librarian for Robeson County in North Carolina, the third poorest county in the U.S.. Most of their books are out of date and falling apart. By providing the Robeson County Public Library and its 5 other branches with new books, kid-friendly furniture, and computers, Shelly hopes to promote literacy and ultimately open many doors that would otherwise be closed for all the children of Robeson County.

Shelly relocated to Lumberton 1-½ years ago in response to the need in the struggling county where the literacy rate is very low. She is totally committed to her job and is known to dress up in costumes in order to motivate children to read. Her children’s library makeover will include lots of new books, computers, and new shelving. “The furniture and shelving units are very old--most of them broken,” said Shelly in her application. “The newer ones have been donated by stores that were closing or ones that I found at garage sales. We do not have the proper size shelving for young children and our tables have sharp edges. I would love for the main library to be an inviting place for these children.”

She plans to create an area for teens/tweens, another area with kid-sized furniture, and a space for toddlers and moms to sit with chairs you can wipe clean. “It is vital for this community to stress the importance of reading,” says Shelly, “and stimulating its children with new and exciting surroundings would be awesome!”

Shelly has a lot on her plate. She is responsible for planning, preparing and implementing all of the story times for all county locations on a weekly basis, including driving to each location. She also orders all books, goes to all meetings, schedules all the programming and entertainment, decorates, you name it, she does it!


Diary Starts Here

August 25, 2008
Here's an update from Shelly...
"Dear Jenny and Damon-
Finally, finally, the books are coming! We ordered over 500 books which is just the beginning thanks to your foundation. I tried to select a combination of modern novels, classic novels, early childhood and nonfiction. I updated our presidential, Native American, countries, states and biography sections. We now have the complete set of presidents along with the first ladies. Another area of concern was our early readers. We Both Read books are books that adults read with their children--one page is for the adult to read while the other is for the child. This will help promote reading time together. We also updated our Newberry, Caldecott and Battle of the Books collection. Thanks again for this great gift--it means so much to our community. It is the lift we needed to keep us heading in a positive direction. Now on to furniture!!!!!
Thanks--Shelly"

July 23, 2008
Shelly says she has received book donations throughout the county from people who saw her story on our website! That's awesome!!! And her summer reading program is a huge success with 2-300 children at a program. You go, Shelly!

July 10, 2008
Shelly received a really nice note from a stranger who happened to see her story on this web site. Her name is Valerie and her 6 and 9-year old daughters have offered to send Shelly a box of books they don't read any more. You can read the note in Shelly's messages. Isn't is great to see little kids like that with such big hearts? This is a terrific ripple effect. Thank you, Valerie!

June 26, 2008
This week is the start of Shelly's summer reading program--so it has been hectic. Their theme this year is Catch the Reading Bug. Through various donations, they have been able to plan a pretty "buggy" summer! The NC Museum of Natural Sciences helped kick things off with a special program--the kids really enjoyed seeing some of the animals they provided. Next up is "That's a Spicy
Cockroach" program. And guess who's dressing up as a giant cockroach? The same librarian who dressed as an Easter Bunny and The Cat in the Hat...

June 20, 2008
Shelly sent me a note today and it's moments like this that make Jenny's Heroes so worthwhile. Here's what she said...
"Dear Jenny-
I am still walking on air after receiving your wonderful gift. I really still can't believe it is true. I am truly thankful for what this will mean to our children. The phone has not stopped ringing with congrats from well wishers. One of the best things that happened today was when several of "my" teenagers ran into the library and shouted--Yeah for Miss Shelly--we love you! They then all circled around me and gave me a big group hug--They have already put in their suggestions on how I should fix "their" library and of course, they brought me a huge book list!

Although my boss tells me not to work on the weekends--I will be working this one--I want to make sure that I am careful about making the best choices possible for our community. Thanks again and I will talk to you soon.
Shelly"

June 19, 2008
I called Shelly this morning with the news that she would receive the grant she requested. There was a roomful of people including Library Director Bob Fisher, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Rusty Livermore, Vice Chairman Horace Stacy, as well as newspaper and television reporters. Bob really helped us get everyone there for my phone call and Shelly will be on their local news tonight.

In talking to Shelly, Bob, and Rusty, I learned that Robeson County covers over 900 square miles and has 125,000 people of which 25,000 are children. Can you imagine how many of these children will benefit from Shelly's gift? The library's branches are scattered throughout the county and Shelly will be updating all the branches. She especially needs new shelving and told me there was even a bullet hole in one of their shelves.

"If you can teach a child to read, they've got a chance," Rusty told me on the phone. Rusty was born & raised in Robeson County and said they have the lowest literacy rate in all of North Carolina. Well, I think that's about to change. Shelly has already tripled the number of people coming to the childrens' library, so imagine what she will do with her "new & improved" space. Bob told me about one family whose mother walks her three children 3 miles every week just to attend Shelly's reading class. Shelly is clearly a woman who is already making a difference and is about to do even more.