ALAMOSA — GFWC Woman’s Citizenship Club held its monthly meeting recently where they honored Holly Van Hoy, the children’s librarian at the Alamosa Public Library, as the 2023 Woman of the Year.
“The Woman’s Citizenship Club has named a Woman of the Year since 1994 and we are proud to present this well-deserved award to Holly," stated Helen Taylor, President of the Woman’s Citizenship Club.
Van Hoy attended Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She stated, “from the time I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher." She taught pre-school for 16 years in California, moved to Gunnison, and became the director of a preschool there for 6 years.
Van Hoy then moved to the San Luis Valley in February of 2018 where she was hired as the children’s librarian. She describes the library as not only a place full of resources and information, but a source of connection for people. It can and should be a hub for the community. To emphasize this commitment, Van Hoy participated in a challenging year-long study which included course work in the Project Ready program. The purpose was to support Equity and Diversity specifically for librarians working with youth. She feels it is important to reach all children from preschool to teenagers to help them grow as a library user. She started a Teen Advisory Council to help her choose materials for this age group. She also started the Kids Club every Friday at the library.
Active in the community, Van Hoy is a co-chairman of the Boys and Girls Club board of directors and is a member of the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy. Van Hoy and her staff have partnered with many organizations and groups such as Parents as Teachers, Immigrant Resource Center, Woman’s Citizenship Club, Dumb Friends League, Vegi, the Rio Grande Farm Park and many more. “Holly’s warmth and caring for youth and the community of Alamosa is obvious,” stated Mary Russell, club member who nominated Van Hoy as the club’s Woman of the Year for 2023.
The Woman’s Citizenship Club is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs a unifying force, bringing together local women’s clubs, with members dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.
