The Patrick Heath Public Library celebrated its dedicated volunteers with a festive evening of food, music, and heartfelt appreciation during its annual Volunteer Appreciation Event on Friday, May 9.
Currently, the library has about 110 active volunteers who contributed more than 2,400 hours in Fiscal Year 2024.
This year’s theme was Fiesta, and more than 70 volunteers and their loved ones gathered to enjoy a lively evening filled with dinner, music, a photo booth, and plenty of laughter. The event recognized the many great contributions volunteers make to the library and the Boerne community throughout the year.
“Our volunteers are the heartbeat of this library,” Library Director Natalie Shults said. “Their commitment allows us to go above and beyond in the services we offer. We couldn’t do what we do without them.”
As of April 2025, the national estimated value of each volunteer hour in 2024 was $34.79 – a 3.9% increase from the previous year, according to the National Leadership Center. Based on this rate, volunteers at the Patrick Heath Public Library saved the City of Boerne and local taxpayers nearly $83,500 in the last fiscal year.
Volunteers assist in a wide variety of roles including shelving materials, supporting programming, working in the bookshop, and helping preserve local and family history archives.
In addition to cost savings, volunteers play an important role in enhancing library services. Their support helps lighten staff workload, improve service efficiency, and ensure smooth operations during high-traffic periods.
“Each volunteer brings something unique to our team, whether it’s a friendly smile for a visitor or a helping hand during a big event,” Shults said. “They’re a vital part of our mission to serve the Boerne community.”
For more information on how to become a library volunteer, visit boernelibrary.org or stop by the library front desk.
