The North Carolina Public Library Directors Association named Christine Helton, Chair of the Caldwell County Public Library Board of Trustees, Library Trustee of the Year for 2020 at their virtual annual meeting in December.
“This award is so well-deserved. Christine is a tireless and talented advocate for our Public Library and community, and her care and support have been key to the Library's current growth and success,” said Caldwell County Public Library Interim Director Leslie Griffin. “Christine gives constantly of her time and of herself, and is never too busy to treat the staff, complement our initiatives, discuss innovations, and be a cheerleader for the Library.”
Helton joined the Board of Trustees in May 2018 and became Chair the following July, immediately assisting the Library as the Lenoir building transitioned into a shared County Resource Center. She was a major point of contact for all parties during the transition and ensured that the Library maintained the space needed to continue to serve the community.
“Her fortes are recognizing and advocating what the Library can be in the community, relationship-building to get things done, and hard-work to bring our visions to reality,” said Griffin.
She has taken the lead in the development of the County’s new Southern Branch and is instrumental in design planning, relationship-building, and working with staff and vendors to make the best, most cost-effective decisions. She has helped provide the vision that will transform the new location into a youth-oriented facility to serve the schools nearby.
She also was the point-of-contact for the Library’s all-day Staff Day 2020, which included a Poverty Simulation with participants from other County agencies and the NC State Library. She is an avid library user, and supporter of diverse and innovative programs and collections, including a major Pride event in 2019 and the addition of Chromebooks, WI-FI hotspots, and cake pans for circulation. Helton is currently heading the search committee for a new Library Director.
“I do whatever tasks that I can to help make the library a better place for the staff and the patrons. This may include helping with staff educational activities, participating in community programs, attending commissioner meetings’, or just setting up chairs for library events,” said Helton.
Helton is a Registered Nurse with Prime Surgical Suites in Granite Falls.