"It was a really nice surprise because I love working with the kids," said Maureen Fox from Atglen Public Library (APL), who was named Volunteer of the Year by the Octorara YMCA & Program Center, where she holds a monthly story time program that promotes reading among the Y's toddler and prekindergarten classes.

Fox and volunteers from each of the branches of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine were honored during a "Breakfast of Champions" event held on April 18 at the Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester. Octorara YMCA teacher Allison Thaler nominated Fox on behalf of that YMCA location's staff. Thaler's nomination letter stated, "Maureen has a warm smile, a genuine love for our students and the appreciation of our students and staff. Thank you, Miss Maureen, for teaching our students to love books."

Fox, who is known as "Miss Maureen," not only reads to the children at the YMCA, but also selects 40 books from the library's collection and brings them to the location for use by the youngsters. "I go in on the third Wednesday of the month and read stories to the three different classrooms - two pre-K classes and one toddler. I do stories and songs and little finger plays," Fox said. "When I get there, I switch out the 40 books and take the old ones back to the library and reshelve them."

Fox and her co-workers, including library director Robbyn Kehoe, select the age-appropriate books for the youngsters to enjoy each month. "They stay in the classroom, so they have something fresh to look at," Fox noted.

Fox's story time program at the YMCA started in September at the beginning of the school year. "The Y reached out to Robbyn and asked if I could do outreach," said Fox. "I used to go to the PLC (Primary Learning Center) at Octorara and read, (so) I was happy to be able to do it (at the YMCA)."

In addition to her work at the YMCA, Fox conducts APL's Music 'n' Movement program on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. and a story time with craft program on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. She also runs two programs for adults - Book Club, which meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m., and the Monday Mile Walking Group at 5:15 p.m.

"I started as a volunteer and used to be on the library board, and then I became a part-time employee," noted Fox, who is also a volunteer coach with Girls on the Run, which meets at the Octorara YMCA. "I have been doing story time and Music 'n' Movement and working at the circulation desk for close to 15 years."

Fox was part of the team that helped the library move to its newer and larger location at 121 Main St. in 2022. "(The new library) is a dream come true," Fox said, adding that she appreciates that the library allows her to conduct a reading program off-site. "I know how fortunate I am to work in a place that supports and believes in community outreach."

For more information and to register for library programs, call 610-593-6848 or visit http://www.atglenpubliclibrary.org and click on "Register for Programs." More information is also available at http://www.facebook.com/AtglenPublicLibrary.