NYT Librarian of the Year 2006 - Melissa K. Hymel

Administrative Librarian

Pointe Coupee Parish Library, New Roads, Louisiana

Melissa was nominated by Penelope McCarthy, who wrote, simply and passionately: “We in Pointe Coupee are so fortunate to have her as our librarian.”  Not only did Melissa work closely with schools to stimulate children’s love of reading … not only did she foster volunteer service that made all the difference to one volunteer in particular, as well as to the community overall … but also, following Hurricane Katrina, Melissa rose to the occasion, extending library hours to accommodate returning evacuees with so many urgent needs, helping them locate missing relatives, make banking transactions or alert FEMA to their needs, and always offering a shoulder to cry on, arms to cuddle infants with and strong Louisiana coffee to prop up body and soul.  A library IS so much more than its collection –– as exemplified by Melissa Hymel.