By Alisa Boswell-Gore
The fact that Roosevelt County resident Betty Williamson won the United Way of Eastern New Mexico’s Patricia Bazar Community Volunteer of the Year award on April 5 was highly appropriate as there are few causes she is not involved with in one way or another.
But Williamson didn’t exactly walk out the door with the award … because she was busy volunteering at another event she had already committed to, The Jack Williamson Lectureship at Eastern New Mexico University.
“But obviously, my family has a vested interest in that,” said Williamson, who is the niece of Jack Williamson, the science fiction author and former ENMU professor that the event honors.
But Williamson is also a member of ENMU’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which has all biology-type research come their way for approval in hopes that “there are no frogs dying in vain,” as Williamson puts it.
She also helps run local spelling bees, the Methodist church’s turkey dinner each November, among other dinners throughout the year, and she has been known to play hotel for more than one scientist who came to Roosevelt County for research.
“I just get sucked into all kinds of interesting and random things,” she said with a laugh. “But I do believe that people living in a community should be involved in their community. I just believe it’s what we should all do.”
But out of all of her endeavors, the one that probably captures Williamson’s heart most is her involvement with Friends of the Library, an organization that raises funds for Portales Public Library programs, particularly the children’s summer reading program, which hosts various arts and crafts and reading exercises for children preschool through fifth grade.
“I have a heart for libraries, period, because libraries are just so critical to a community. I grew up involved in books, and books are just such an important thing,” she said. “Every time we travel, I go to libraries in different communities, and this is an amazing library for a community this size.”
But the library does more than just provide books to the public, says Williamson.
“It is also a site of information for anyone who walks in the door. No one has to pay a penny out of their pocket to do anything at that library ever. There is no paid programming. Everything that happens at that library is free to anyone who walks in the door, and that is so important,” she said. “People who just don’t have the space or resources for those kinds of materials, they can have that, and our librarians here are just so amazing and supportive and helpful.”
Williamson said she sees people walk into the library all the time who have problems, but they do not know where to go for help or solutions.
“People don’t know what to do, and they go in there, and they point them in the right direction. It’s just a great information source for the community,” she said.
Williamson said the biggest Friends of the Library fundraiser each year is its November book sale.
“That puts so many books into the hands of people in this community. We sell thousands of books that weekend,” she said. “It allows people who maybe would not have been able to have books in their home to be able to put books in their home (for about 50 cents per book). We love that, seeing books go out with people who really could use them.”
Portales Public Library Director Denise Burnett said Friends of the Library can enhance programming for the library in ways the library cannot do for itself due to procurement laws, such as providing free books to children and the Santa pancake breakfast each December.
“They are people who are committed to the library and to books and to kids. They are our word-of-mouth to spread the word on what we do here. And they are always willing to help out with anything,” said Burnett, adding that Williamson is their biggest cheerleader.
“She’s our biggest promoter and always willing and cheerful,” she said of Williamson. “The kids are so fortunate when she comes in to read out loud to them. I feel very comfortable asking Betty to help in any way, and she always will. It is always an asset to have her around.”
