Bench dedicated to Carolyn Waller
By Sam Waller
The Shackelford County Library recently dedicated a bench outside its main entrance in memory of librarian Carolyn Waller, who died in December 2020.
The bench, constructed by sculptor Joe Barrington of Throckmorton, was presented by the Prairieland Quilters, of which Waller was a member.
“We decided we wanted to do something special for Carolyn, so we raffled a quilt last year at the Christmas parade,” said library treasurer Tammy Glover, who was active with Waller in both the Prairieland Quilters and the Albany Study Club, the organization that operates the library. "Carolyn was very important to the library as well as our quilting club. We just thought it was important that we remember her, and we want people to keep remembering her.”
Glover said the project was a total group effort for the Prairieland Quilters.
“Each one of us put in a block on the quilt that we raffled,” she said, “It was from all of us. Usually, just one person makes a quilt, but this was a group quilt.”
With the bench, a plaque was placed on the library wall reading: “In Memory of Carolyn Waller. She was: Quilter, Librarian, Reader, Albany City Council Woman, Questioner, Study Club Member, Secretary, Teacher, Historian, Christian, Wife, Mother, Sister, Aunt, Texas Cowgirl, Encourager, Confidant, Comforter, Volunteer, Great Cake Maker, and most of all Our Friend.”
Glover said the intent was to remember Waller for all of her endeavors.
“We just wanted everyone to remember everything she was involved in,” Glover said. "Quilting was just one of those things, and the library was just one of them. We just miss her.”
Glover said Barrington included a special touch to the bench’s backrest.
“All the other benches in town have a brand on them,” she said. “Ours has a quilting block. That was her brand.”
New Hours
The library will start a different operating schedule on Monday, March 21, Glover announced, opening at 9:00 a.m. on Mondays for the foreseeable future and staying open until 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday hours will be noon to 5:30 p.m., while Wednesday and Friday hours will be noon to 5:00 p.m.
“Karen Noble is going to be our librarian on Mondays,” Glover said. “She’s going to help us with our accreditation and getting the library up to date. When Carolyn was our librarian, she was certified, and we haven’t had that since she’s been gone.”
Children’s Program
The library will start a weekly children’s program on Friday, March 25, with details available later.
For information, contact librarian Jan Fulkerson at 325-762-2672.
