As a child, Myrtle Ross would often attend dedication ceremonies for family friends or relatives recognized for outstanding accomplishments.
But the 61-year-old former children’s librarian said she never expected to be at a similar event celebrating her work at the Harris County Katy Branch Library.
"I’m just speechless," said Ross, who was surrounded by more than 50 family members, friends and former colleagues at a dedication reception Nov. 17 to name the children’s area of the Katy Library in her honor. "I’m so happy and so pleased, it’s overwhelming."
For more than a year, members of the Friends of the Katy Library have been working with the library and Katy city officials to dedicate the children’s section of the library to Ross.
An employee of the Harris County Public Library System for 36 years, Ross worked at the Katy Library from 1976-2006 as children’s librarian and assistant library director.
Dorothy Bing, a member of the Friends of the Katy Library, spearheaded the effort to honor Ross, saying her three decades at the library were "somewhat of a record."
"She has a wonderful legacy with the children and she’s just a natural for this," Bing said.
Just before Katy library staff and city officials formally dedicated the Katy Library’s children’s space to Ross, she returned for a brief moment to her days as a children’s librarian and read a story to a room of toddlers.
"I’ll be reading one of my favorite books, ‘Baby Won’t Sleep’," she told a small group of children attending the library’s weekly Storytime last week.
Spending time with children and encouraging them to love reading is one of the reasons Ross said she was committed to her work at the library.
"I enjoyed the fact that I was able to work with young people," said Ross, who retired in 2006 and suffered a stroke that same year but has been recovering. "You got to see the children come through and help them with their reading. I was getting paid for the work I really enjoyed."
At the dedication, former Katy Mayor Doyle Callender unveiled a portrait of Ross that was mounted on the wall of the children’s section at the library. Others in attendance included Katy Librarian Angel Hill as well as former Katy Librarian Cecillia Shearron-Hawkins who worked closely with Ross.
"I’m grateful to say that I was able to work with a really stellar children’s librarian," said Shearron-Hawkins, who now works as the branch manager of the Fort Bend County Missouri City Branch Library. "She had incredible qualities when it came to working with children and many a time there were children gathered around her absolutely mesmerized by her delivery of the story."
While library work has been Ross’ passion, becoming a children’s librarian wasn’t her initial plan. As she was completing her bachelor’s of science degree at Prairie View A&M University to become a teacher, Ross worked at a small community library creating programs for children and fell in love with the work.
"We took the kids on field trips and had different activities for them," she said. "We exposed the children to all kinds of avenues and learning, and I had just as much fun as the children."
Knowing she wanted to remain working as a librarian, Ross moved on to a job at the Katy Library in 1976. She commuted from her home in west Houston to the library, which was then located at 5702 Second St. in the city’s first fire station.
"In those days, the drive was through a stretch of woods and it was pretty barren," said Ross, who has been married to her husband, Lonnie, for 37 years. "(My husband) would always make sure the car was in good shape and he always called to make sure I was OK."
As part of her job as children’s librarian, Ross developed a summer reading program that included sports activities, magicians, animals and puppet shows for the kids. She truly enjoyed seeing the children grow in their love for reading.
"In the end, I always hoped they took away a good experience," said Ross, adding that members of the Friends of the Katy Library were always supportive of her work. "I hope I affected the children positively."
During the three decades at the Katy Library, Ross said she saw several changes including the evolution of a card catalog system to an online computer system.
She was also part of the 2002 groundbreaking of the new branch of the Katy Library and moved into the larger facility a year later. At that time, she began working as assistant library director.
Most of all, her fondest memories are of the children and her colleagues who made her job enjoyable.
"Thirty six years is a long time to work in the library service and I didn’t get burned out," Ross said. "You’re led into a path and I was led into a path of service. I thank God for leading me in the path of public service."