As a regular patron, transitioning to volunteering at the Lakewood Library felt natural to Angela.
"Something I've learned about myself through volunteering is just how much I enjoy the children," Angela says. "Just their smile, their questions when they come up to you, and the things that make them so happy, even if it's as simple as picking out two fish shapes. Their creativity has really made me smile inside."
Angela helps with two children's programs: Kids' Club and Paws for Reading. Both programs are very popular, with Kids' Club attracting more than 30 participants and their parents most weeks.
"I love watching the parents work with their kids," Angela adds. "Parents are really present with their kids, but can also step back and let their kids play and do what they do. I love watching parents and kids work together to solve problems. It's just a really neat experience watching them interact."
"Angela has become an invaluable volunteer at Lakewood Library since we arranged for her to help with our Paws program," Kids and Families Librarian Kelly says. "Not only has she come to run that program seamlessly, but she was also eager to help more often and joined Kids' Club as well. I knew we had been gifted with someone special when I walked in after a messy Kids' Club event and saw her cheerfully vacuuming the floor! No task is too messy or lowly for her, and she delights in the kids and their creativity. Her positivity, laughter, and helpfulness are appreciated by all the staff members who work with her, as they tell me repeatedly."
Angela decided to volunteer after retiring from a long and successful career to give back to her community and keep a little structure in her schedule.
"I started my master's in public administration and got an internship with the City and County of Denver in 1992," she recalls. "I went from not really knowing what HR or local government was like, to working in a large department of over 3,000 employees. I fell in love with it and stayed in the field for my whole career, until 2024. It was diverse and you get to do a little bit of everything — the complexity always kept me interested."
And in retirement, Angela is still discovering new and interesting things.
"Being able to sleep in is my favorite thing about retirement," she says with a smile. "It takes a while to get used to it — you're used to being busy and going all the time, so you like some structure, but you plan your days differently. I appreciate being able to spend more time with my husband and not having to be anywhere at seven in the morning."
Kids' Club and Paws for Reading aren't the only JCPL programs that grab Angela's interest. One that stands out in her memory is this past spring's author visit with C.J. Box.
"That event was awesome," she says. "C.J. Box is one of my favorite authors, so it was an incredible treat to be able to be there. I would be one of the people who is considered a 'groupie.' I've read pretty much everything he's ever written, and I lived in Wyoming. Understanding the vastness and how outdoorsy Wyoming is, his work is really authentic to the location."
When she's not reading Box, Angela loves cozy murder mysteries.
"I'm hooked on Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse Mysteries," she says, adding with a laugh: "I love murder mysteries about women that own bookstores or a bed and breakfast and always just happen to stumble upon a dead body."
Outside her volunteer duties and reading, Angela keeps busy with a variety of activities. She is active every day and plays tennis, is involved with her church as a prayer chaplain and takes ad hoc classes on anything from ceramics to literature. She also regularly does yoga and meditation to keep herself centered.
The team at the Lakewood Library is very grateful that Angela reserves time in her schedule for volunteering each week! Thank you for your volunteer service, Angela.