Cyndi Mattson has always liked reading, working with books, and helping people find things, so when she retired from DTN 10 years ago, the library seemed like a good place for her to volunteer.
An Omaha native, this Central High, opens a new window and UNO, opens a new window grad worked at a couple of different jobs before staying home to raise a family. When her youngest child was old enough to get to school on their own, she returned to the work force, and even held a part-time position as a library specialist at OPL’s W. Clarke Swanson Branch, opens a new window for a brief time in the late 1990s.
Now, she helps at W. Dale Clark Main Library with whatever needs to be done, from shelving books and filing obituary cards, to sorting historical files and filling seed packets. “I don’t mind,” said Mattson. “I’ll do whatever they have for me to do.”
Mattson was honored at the 2016 Nebraska Library Association, opens a new window’s Day of Advocacy as an outstanding volunteer.
Mattson may be retired, but she’s certainly not taking it easy. OPL is just one of the many organizations to which she dedicates her time. Mattson volunteers for Omaha Performing Arts, opens a new window, Partnership 4 Kids, opens a new window, Tip Top Thrift Shop, opens a new window, Open Door Mission, opens a new window–Elkhorn, and her church. She also belongs to a variety of other groups to explore and celebrate her Scandinavian heritage.
“Volunteers make things happen,” said Mattson. “Every experience broadens my horizons and introduces me to new people. People think they don’t have time to volunteer or that they can’t do things, but that’s not the right attitude to have. Volunteers are important.”
If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering at OPL, visit your neighborhood branch or click here, opens a new window for more information.
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