Springville Road Librarian Kelly Laney Named District 1 Super Citizen of the Month

Kelly Laney, adult librarian at Springville Road Library, receives May District 1 Super Citizen Award from Birmingham City Councilman Clinton Woods. 

Birmingham City Councilor Clinton Woods has named Kelly Laney, adult librarian at Springville Road Regional Library, as recipient of the May 2019 Birmingham District 1 Super Citizen Award.

Woods said the award is to recognize Laney for her years of dedicated service and genuine love for helping people. "Birmingham Public Library System, you've got someone truly special in Ms. Laney," Woods said.

Laney is the third recipient of the District 1 Super Citizen Award, which Woods set up to recognize people in the district who go above and beyond in helping the community. In a video he released announcing the award, Wood said Laney in her position as adult librarian makes a difference in the lives of patrons of Springville Road Library.

"She really does a great job here, especially with the seniors here at the library in making sure they have regular programming,"Councilor Woods said. "Something is going on every day other than Wednesday. They give people something to come  participate in, celebrate and build community. "

See a link to Councilor Woods' District 1 Super Citizen video on Laney by clicking here to the Birmingham City Council Facebook page and scrolling down to the link.

On the video, Laney said Springville Road - like other BPL locations - is passionate about serving all of its patrons regardless of economic background.

Kelly Laney's District 1 Super Citizen Certificate. 

"I love that the information is available for everybody, it does not matter who you are. Whether you live under a bridge on Seventh Avenue or whether you live in a mansion, you're going to get the same service at the library. You're entitled to that, you're allowed to have that. It's a privilege of the country we live in."

Laney said she has had patrons who are homeless and came in to use the library and were as good a patron as anybody else.

"We need face time with human beings, it is a human need, so we started developing programs allowing patrons to have face time with other adults," Laney said.

One example she cited was Coffee Conversation and Crafts (CCC) a weekly program that developed out of a night craft program for adults another Springville Road adult librarian started several years ago. When Laney took over the adult services department, she saw a need for daytime programs for seniors who don't like driving at night.

"I wanted something for men and women. I wanted something as an ice breaker so adults could come together and talk," Laney said. On the video, she talked of how a patron battling cancer alone found a support team in Coffee Conversations and Crafts.

"They  formed a community around CCC and that led to development of some other programs," Laney said.

Woods was appointed to the District One sear by the Birmingham City Council last December after Lashunda Scales was elected to the Jefferson County Commission District One seat.