Article By Andrea Bruner
A silver plaque honoring a former Independence County Library volunteer hangs on a back wall, and late last month, family and friends came together to remember Joan “Joni” Addis.
Addis died last October.
The plaque was hung on the wall in the library earlier this year, where a number of donors are honored, but it was the first time Addis’ husband, Dean Addis (pictured below), and several friends had been to see it.
At a small ceremony Thursday, Carlene Morrison, library director, welcomed those attending and shared a few words about Addis.
“Joni came to our family in 2016, and she was the funniest, nicest, sweetest lady. We called her our ‘hippie child,’” Morrison said with a laugh. “She was so laid back.
“When she got sick, and she left us, we were hoping she would get to rejoin us. She came in once or twice, but we really miss her, and she did such a great job. She had such a big heart, and we just thought so much of her.”
Morrison said the library would not be what it is today without the work of volunteers like Addis and many others.
“Our volunteers are wonderful – we just love them all, but Joni was special to us. She was our first; she will always have a special place in our heart,” Morrison said.
Dean Addis recalled how he’d read an article about the county library looking for volunteers and told his wife about it. The next day, Addis signed up to volunteer.
That first year, Addis and Mary Beth Frensley were the only two volunteers, until Kim Lindsey joined them in 2017. This was at the old location, before the library moved to 267 E. Main St., inside the newly renovated Barnett Building.
An avid reader, Addis volunteered from 2016 to 2019, when she fell ill. “It was way too short of a time,” Morrison said. “But we really enjoyed her while we had her.”
Fellow volunteer Paula Alpers said Addis was fun to work with and kept everyone laughing.
Mona Stoneham, another volunteer, said Addis took her under her wing. “She was delightful.”
As a library volunteer, Addis often helped with the children’s programs a lot, and she shelved books. She also placed stickers on book spine labels and helped with other tasks.
The Independence County Library is taking new volunteers, Morrison said, explaining that the volunteers manage the public lab, shelve books if they have previous experience, volunteer in the bookstore, clean, assist in the teen lounge, help out with programs, cut out materials for storytimes, and various other projects.
For more information about the library, visit indcolib.com or call (870) 793-8814.
