Longtime Richland Library volunteer receives statewide recognition
October 10, 2020
A longtime volunteer with Richland Library is receiving statewide recognition for her service to the community.
On Wednesday, September 30, the Office of Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Association for Volunteer Administration (SCAVA) presented the Legacy Volunteer Award to Mary Louis Anderson Lewis during a virtual ceremony of the 2020 Governor’s Awards for Volunteerism.
The honor highlights Lewis’ work over the last 16 years to index all the obituaries found in The State newspaper as well as past obituaries and births published in the Columbia Record newspaper and Black community newspapers.
Some key aspects of the project with the library’s Walker Local and Family History Center include:
- More than one million records, each entered by Lewis
- 8,000 – 10,000 page views each month from people around the world
- 10,000+ hours of volunteerism by Lewis
To view Lewis’ work with the obituary index, visit richlandlibrary.com.
About Richland Library
Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Offering state-of-the-art technology, a variety of literary and cultural programs and 13 bustling facilities located throughout the county, Richland Library provides a truly customizable, modern library experience for residents and visitors alike.
