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2023 Helen Foster Award

for

Library Advocacy and Support

 

 

Nomination Form

The Helen Foster Award, created in 2016 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Lee County Library, is bestowed upon those individuals who have made an especially meritorious contribution to the Lee County Library, through their acts of advocacy, service, and support of the Library.  Anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Lee County, Mississippi may be nominated or nominate someone for consideration.  The deadline for nominations is July 15, 2023.  Nominations may be emailed to adm2@li.lib.ms.us.  

 

About Mrs. Helen Foster

Motivated by a sense of civic duty, dedication, community, and a passion for reading, Helen Eaves Foster was an integral founder, chairman, and primary nurturer of the Lee County Library for most of her adult life.  Mrs. Foster served various roles in civic groups, clubs, and organizations such as being a member of the Woman’s Club, the Mutual Culture Club, Pilot Club, Board of Stewards, Chairman of the Lee County Tuberculosis Chapter drive, and charter member of Philathea Sunday School class of First Methodist Church.  Mrs. Foster’s relationship with the Lee County Library began as a volunteer of four years, and by 1938, she obtained the position of the Lee County Library Director.  During her time as director, Mrs. Foster acquired the state’s first bookmobile for the Lee County Library in 1941.  Other awards and achievements belonging to Mrs. Foster include the 1948 bestowing of her name to the Helen Foster Auditorium in the Lee County Library by the Pilot Club, and the awarding of the title of Outstanding Trustee as appointed by the Mississippi Library Association in 1949. 

Upon her death in 1961, Mrs. Foster bequeathed funding to form the Helen Foster Lecture Series, which has hosted such notables as Dr. Werner Von Braun, Shelby Foote, and John Grisham.  The legacy of Mrs. Foster’s passion and commitment to Lee County and the Lee County library lives on today and continues to foster growth of the community.