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Community Corner

Library Devotee Watched Cupertino Change

Gladys Maiden is among the 2011 CREST Award winners for her devotion to the Friends of the Cupertino Library for more than 25 years.

It has been more than a quarter century since Gladys Maiden, one of the 2011 CREST (Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken) Award winners, started volunteering with the Friends of the Cupertino Library. While time flies, her devotion to the library remains.

"I started looking for a place to volunteer about 25-26 years ago, when my children were all grown and gone," said Maiden. "I chose the library, because I remembered how much my children had enjoyed going to the library."

Maiden has volunteered in three offices of the Friends of the Cupertino Library: hospitality, membership and book sales. Right now, she concentrates on book sales, which take place three times a year, in February, May and October.

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Maiden said she would always do a little research on the used books donated to the library before putting them for sale so they would all be organized and categorized. While most of the books are $1 for each hardcover and 50 cents for each paperback or pocket book, there is a select room where there are more valuable books for slightly higher prices.

Children's books are usually the lowest-priced in order to encourage children to read, Maiden said.

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Maiden is also involved with the all-year-round lobby sale in the library. There are shelves of books in the lobby of the library for $1-$5 each. Maiden said she helps out with stocking the shelves twice a week.

"The lobby sale has an honor system," said Maiden. "We let people go to the open shelves to pick books and pay."

Maiden said the Cupertino Library stays popular despite the wide availability of on-line research. She said those who don't have computers or Internet access at home use the library computers. In the meantime, many check out DVDs from the library, and families take their children there to read.

"It's a very busy community place," said Maiden. "It's interesting to volunteer there."

For Maiden's long-term contribution to the Friends of the Cupertino Library, Kathy Stakey, vice president of the nonprofit, nominated her for the CREST Award.

"Gladys is a quiet, unassuming individual who is truly dedicated to the Friends," said Stakey. "She has always chosen to be in the background, working hard, which is why no one noticed she hadn't been recognized for her value to the community and The Friends."

Born in Kansas, Maiden moved to California at age 6. She grew up in Southern California, married and had children there.

Maiden moved to Cupertino with her family for her husband's job relocation in 1977. She said Cupertino back then had only half of today's population size.

"Quinlan Center was a cherry orchard when we first came here," she said. "Cupertino has changed a lot, but it's still a nice neighborly community."

Maiden added that she feels honored about the CREST award from the city and will continue to volunteer for her increasingly diverse community.

"The diversity here is not just that people are from different countries," said Maiden. "They also have different schooling and professional backgrounds. But despite the differences, I see people in Cupertino all looking to learn. That's something I love about Cupertino—it promotes learning."

A video recording of Maiden doing her volunteer work, produced by the Cupertino City Channel, is attached to this article.

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