subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Fri, Sep 05 2008 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
email this story   E-mail this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Librarian Sandi Hilbern is retiring from the Oklahoma School for the Blind. Under Hilbern’s direction, the OSB library has become an entirely different and busier place.
Staff photo by Jennifer Lyles /

Published February 27, 2008 12:38 am -

Librarian retires for the second time


By Cathy Spaulding
Phoenix Staff Writer

Oklahoma School for the Blind librarian Sandi Hilbern recalls buying Henry the Library Bear for $2 at a garage sale.

“The kids come up and hug it,” she said. “That’s why I go to garage sales. I don’t buy things for myself. I buy for the kids.”

Hilbern has been doing things for the kids since long before she became the school’s librarian in 1998.

She said she plans to keep doing things for the kids after she retires as librarian Friday.

Although not blind herself, Hilbern said she can identify with vision-impaired children.

“I’’ve been one-eyed since birth,” she said. “It’s never been a problem, but I’ve always had a problem with depth perception. I had a crossed-eye, and I was always teased as a child.”

Hilbern said experiences prompted her to seek a career to help the blind. Hilbern was a vocational rehabilitation counselor for 23 years, working mainly with people who were blind or deaf and blind. She spent 18 years as counselor at OSB before retiring for the first time, in 1998.

“They offered me a temporary position at the library,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about libraries, but I did know about blindness. I got a scholarship from Northeastern State University. They gave me a waiver to teach. I completed the 20 hours to be certified in libraries in a year.”

Under Hilbern’s direction, the OSB library has become an entirely different and busier place.

“When I first got here, there were two tables and stiff chairs in the reading area,” she said.

Now the area has a pile of beanbag chairs, a row of computers — and Henry.

The library also has grown to have the largest collection of Braille literature in Oklahoma, Hilbern said.

“The collection has really increased and now we’re about to run out of space,” she said.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.




monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide


Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Premier Guide

Premium Jobs

2605-Mechanics
HEAVY EQUIPMENT FIELD MECHANICS needed immediately. Must have 3-5 years experienced working with CAT heavy equipment. Tr...>MORE

2634-Carpenter/Framers
Wanted: Top Talent
Morton Buildings in Muskogee, OK has immediate openings for motivated crew members and future cr
...>MORE

2642- Health Careers
Health Careers Certification Instructional Aide
(LPN required)
The Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee
...>MORE

2650- Plumbing Inspector
PLUMBING INSPECTOR
The City of Muskogee is accepting applications/ resumes for the position of Plumbing Inspector.
...>MORE

2648- Job Fair
JOB FAIR
Schwan's Home Service, Inc. a leader in frozen food sales and delivery for over 56 years, is seeking entre
...>MORE

2619-Office Help
Wanted for Roof Truss Company. Computer skills required (microsoft, Office & more) call 918-686-8060 for interview...>MORE

2614-Assistant Manager
"Never the Same Routine!"
"I like Sun Loan because, unlike most jobs, you don't get caught up in the same routine e
...>MORE

2582-LPN's & CMA's
LPN's
All Shifts
New Pay Package
(Salary depends on Experience)
Benefits Available

CMA's<
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

2595-2004 Chevy Cavalier
4 door auto., air, $3800 Call 918-682-5349 or 645-9295...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Extras

2632-AKC French Bulldogs
10 weeks. $950. 918-315-1462 or jellis@crosstel.net...>MORE

2604-Hay for Sale
10 minutes North of Muskogee
$30 per bale; 918-781-2421
...>MORE

2647- Furniture & Appliances
ALL TYPES FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES. Want to Buy Good Clean Furniture & Appliances. Buy, Sell & Trade. 310 S. 3rd 918-36...>MORE

2607-Lost Mini Dachshund
Reward: lost black & tan male mini-dachshund, very friendly. Last seen: E.S. between Hancock & Augusta, Call 918-348-609...>MORE

2594-Springer Spaniel/Beagle puppies
We are part of a single parent home with a wonderful mom. She went through a lot to carry us but with the help of a str...>MORE

2599-2 Young Bulls
For Sale: 2 Young Bulls
918-487-5755
...>MORE

2624-ACA Carin Terriers
2-9 week old male Tot's available $300 918-705-1574...>MORE

2646- AKC Dachshund
AKC Dachshund 4 Black & tan, silver dapples & red dapples, M & F, 8 wks old. 1st shots & wormed. $125 Parents on sight. ...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index