After two years of hard work, Zoë is stepping back from her VC role. She has been instrumental, along with Lindsey, in coordinating all of our volunteers. She will be missed and the Trustees want to say a massive thank you for everything she has done.
On leaving the role Zoë had this message to share:
"It is with deep regret that I'm writing to tell you that I am stepping down from the position of volunteer coordinator at MRCL. I know that I leave you in the most capable hands with Lindsey, who works tirelessly to provide a fulfilling volunteer experience at MRCL and does her absolute utmost to keep the library shifts filled, alongside Liz, Jill, Jeanette and Josh, the other trustees, who work so hard to provide this much-needed and much-loved asset to our local community.
I joined MRCL as a volunteer in May 2019 to help with community engagement. My first project was to publicise and help run a volunteer open day to recruit more volunteers ahead of the relaunch in July 2019. I enjoyed meeting all the other members of the volunteer community so much and sharing their enthusiasm and passion for this amazing community project I jumped at the chance to get more involved and took up one of the volunteer coordinator roles ahead of the library reopening. At that time I was employed part-time and working freelance, so I was quite flexible and fitting library work around my other commitments was manageable. However, I have recently returned to full-time employment and with my family responsibilities, I am no longer able to find the time necessary to do the role justice and contribute in a significant way.
Working with Lindsey Thompson and Ann Ruthven has been an absolute pleasure and a privilege. I've learnt so much from these very special women; their knowledge, passion and commitment were totally inspiring. As a community, we were all hugely saddened when Ann died last Autumn. I'm deliberately not using the term 'passed away' as she threatened to haunt anyone who said that about her! Ann's sense of humour was legendary, almost as legendary as her cakes, and I know as a community we will continue to miss her. I'd especially like to thank Lindsey for everything she does for MRCL; she's so organised, efficient and totally committed to the volunteer community.
I'd also like to say thank you to Liz Hearn, who was central to the campaign to ensure that Moorland Road didn't lose its library, for her vision and also to Jill and Jeanette, who have been supporters from the start, and tenaciously continue to dedicate their time to this mission. Also to the other trustees past and present who do or have done so much for the MRCL community.
Finally, a huge thank you to all of you who keep the library running and ensure that our community has access to books week in and week out! I hope that I'll still bump into some of you on Moorland Road and I'll definitely pop into the library when I'm passing.
Wishing you all and the library the very best for the future.
Sincerely
Zoë Hughes Gough"