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Check Out the Tuttle Library Staff
Jane Bryant is the current volunteer coordinator for the library. Since the staff at the Tuttle Library is all volunteers, Jane organizes the volunteers to work so that the library is open as much as possible. When a volunteer is sick or cannot work a scheduled shift, Jane helps find a replacement volunteer to cover, or many times she covers the shift herself. The library is always seeking new volunteers to help staff the library, process books, and other tasks that keep the doors open for the community. Friends of the Tuttle Public Library (FOTPL) was established in 2009, and Jane is one of the original group of less than a dozen people that met at the school superintendent’s office. In those very early days, the group successfully acquired tax-exempt status for a nonprofit organization, 501(c)(3) using money from FOTPL membership dues and a grant from the organization, Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO). |
The FOTPL went to all the events in Tuttle passing out pro-library literature, visiting with community members, and seeking to enlist others as FOTPL supporters. When they finally were permitted to place the proposition to have a Tuttle Library on a ballot alone in 2010, it was defeated by less than 100 votes. There had been false rumors of a large tax increase on property owners, and the false rumor caused the vote to fail. The Friends were disheartened. However, they have continued to diligently press on. In May of 2014, the library opened without tax support, but from donations of money, time, materials, books, grants, and the grass roots effort by many to offer a library to the Tuttle community.
Jane served as president for three years during the pre/post opening of the all-donation, all-volunteer library (2013-2015). For those years she toiled more than 40 hours each week. It is no wonder that in 2014, Jane was named Tuttle’s Citizen of the Year. Currently Jane works about 10 hours per week as a Tuttle Library volunteer.
Having a library for Tuttle is essential for Jane who grew up here. After getting her degree in education for deaf children, Jane moved away for her career to Amarillo. Later she married a man from California and moved there to finish out her career teaching deaf children. She divorced after 15 years, but loved teaching in California where the pay and benefits were so much better. After retiring from 38 years of teaching, Jane moved back home to Tuttle in 2003. She did an extensive remodel to an older home she purchased in town.
For ten years while she lived in California, Jane created original porcelain dolls. When she grew tired of creating dolls, she raced sail boats. She owned a sail boat and was a member of an all women racing fleet. Today, her hobbies are being an avid reader and going to almost every OU women’s basketball game. She travels with her booster club by bus to the away games, and Jane loves it. When there is time, she does enjoy sewing and antiquing. Jane’s interests are many and diverse. In her own words, “I am excellent at playing!”
Jane is also excellent at working. Even though several FOTPL members worked very hard, no one worked harder to open the Tuttle Library than Jane. Her vision is to have a larger library, “The community is growing and we need to grow with it. We are a starter library, but we really need a larger library with room for more books, and we need programs that will help our citizens. We are volunteers; we need to hire a professional librarian.”
If you would like to volunteer, call Jane at 388-5271. If you have not visited the library, go by today!
Jane served as president for three years during the pre/post opening of the all-donation, all-volunteer library (2013-2015). For those years she toiled more than 40 hours each week. It is no wonder that in 2014, Jane was named Tuttle’s Citizen of the Year. Currently Jane works about 10 hours per week as a Tuttle Library volunteer.
Having a library for Tuttle is essential for Jane who grew up here. After getting her degree in education for deaf children, Jane moved away for her career to Amarillo. Later she married a man from California and moved there to finish out her career teaching deaf children. She divorced after 15 years, but loved teaching in California where the pay and benefits were so much better. After retiring from 38 years of teaching, Jane moved back home to Tuttle in 2003. She did an extensive remodel to an older home she purchased in town.
For ten years while she lived in California, Jane created original porcelain dolls. When she grew tired of creating dolls, she raced sail boats. She owned a sail boat and was a member of an all women racing fleet. Today, her hobbies are being an avid reader and going to almost every OU women’s basketball game. She travels with her booster club by bus to the away games, and Jane loves it. When there is time, she does enjoy sewing and antiquing. Jane’s interests are many and diverse. In her own words, “I am excellent at playing!”
Jane is also excellent at working. Even though several FOTPL members worked very hard, no one worked harder to open the Tuttle Library than Jane. Her vision is to have a larger library, “The community is growing and we need to grow with it. We are a starter library, but we really need a larger library with room for more books, and we need programs that will help our citizens. We are volunteers; we need to hire a professional librarian.”
If you would like to volunteer, call Jane at 388-5271. If you have not visited the library, go by today!
