Walters is the first award recipient from the Library Science Graduate School Division of the School of Education.
Joining her for the award ceremony in Greensboro were her husband, Everett Walters, and daughter, Kiki W. Farmer and members of the regional board and staff, including Nancy Garner, director of the Moore County Library, and Theron Bell of Robbins, chairwoman of the Sandhill Regional Library System Board of Trustees.
Others attending were: Linda Lamp, supervisor of Montgomery County Library; Sheila Evans, director of Hoke County Library; Myra Taylor, treasurer, Sandhills Regional Library System Board of Trustees; Dr. Lee Shiflett, chair of the UNC-G Library Science Division of the School of Education; and Phoebe Medlin, director, Hampton B. Allen Library in Wadesboro.
"I am not usually speechless; however, I love this university and what it stands for, and what it has meant to me and many members of my staff, so this is special, and I am honored to accept," Walters said.
Walters has been associated with SRLS since 1982 and has served as regional director since 1994. She has served as Library Science Alumni president, has been a regular presenter at UNC-G's Young Writers' Annual Event, and guest lecturer in library marketing. She has also been active in Public Library Marketing in North Carolina and with the American Library Association.
The Sandhill Regional Library System, including Anson, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore and Richmond counties, has won more than 25 state and national awards for library programs and service.
The Moore County Library recently reported an increase of some 16,000 visits over the number for the previous year. That brought the total for the fiscal year to about 120,000 persons.
