Lewes library honors Sandy Ahn as volunteer of the year

The Lewes Public Library recently recognized Sandy Ahn of Lewes as its 2023 Volunteer of the Year.

Volunteering has always been a vital part of Ahn’s life, affording her the opportunity to make a positive impact on others while fostering a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

“Volunteering at the Lewes Public Library fills me with pride and joy,” said Ahn. “Lewes is fortunate to have not only a beautiful library filled with the world of books and knowledge, but also a vibrant community hub offering a diverse array of programming. Being selected as Volunteer of the Year is a profound honor.”

A native Delawarean and former middle school teacher and organizational leader, Ahn moved to Lewes with her husband Tim from northeastern Pennsylvania in 2011, when the youngest of their three sons graduated from high school. Having volunteered at a small library in Pennsylvania where she developed an appreciation for library services, Ahn immediately applied to volunteer at the Lewes library. She looked forward to meeting new people and immersing herself in the culture of the Lewes community. She is now one of the most experienced library volunteers, and has seen significant growth and change in the organization over the years, including the move to the new building in 2016. 

Ahn holds a wide range of skills, such as library opening, transit processing, and locating holds and missing items with an eagle eye. She often can be found behind the front desk assisting with customer service or partnering with staff on special projects. She especially enjoys working with patrons to help them locate information and specific content.

“Sandy is a true gem, and the library is lucky to have her,” said Tracy Dietz, Lewes library volunteer coordinator. “She is always willing to give so much of herself, and we appreciate her so much.”

When Ahn is not at the library, she enjoys volunteering for shelter animals; walking and biking area trails; traveling both nationally and internationally with Tim; spending time with her rescue pets; visiting her sons in Baltimore; Richmond, Va.; and Raleigh, N.C.; and, of course, reading.

As the busiest library in Sussex County, the Lewes Public Library relies every day on its incredible community of more than 125 volunteers. Together, they contribute over 6,000 hours of time annually, allowing the library to provide service to over 150,000 visitors and offer more than 1,300 programs each year.