Gail Borden Library staff member receives award for positive impact on children
Gail Borden Public Library's Debbie Roycroft is the recipient of the 2023 Youth Services Achievement Award from the Illinois Library Association.
The award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to young people by creating and/or implementing library programs, services and/or initiatives that encourage love of learning and positively impact children.
"The staff and board of Gail Borden Library are so very pleased with the work Debbie is performing for our community and proud she has received this award that she so richly deserves," said Gail Borden Library CEO Carole Medal.
As the KidSpace Office Coordinator at the main library during the past five years, Roycroft uses her creativity and talent when assisting with library programs for young children from birth to six years of age.
She has designed kits for a popular library program, Preschool Puppeteers, at which children create their own puppets from the kit. During the pandemic, she provided a digital version of the program to take children step by step through the process of puppet making and even displayed photos of their finished puppets online.
As a former teacher and volunteer who gave art lessons to elementary school students, she is pleased to be showing young children how to make puppets in person.
"I really enjoy seeing the kids excited about making the puppets their own way. I like being able to tap into my teaching background to do this," she said.
Roycroft's skillset includes administrative tasks as well as creative. She designed a method of keeping track of program props and has assisted with other projects to help serve the youngest in the library community.
Interacting with library customers is her favorite part of the job. "Working with the little kids gives me a lot of joy. It's a lift to the spirits."
The award will be presented to Roycroft at an awards ceremony at the Illinois Library Association's Annual Conference Oct. 24-26 in Springfield.