There are many like her in Saratoga who help their community by working for free at the library. In fact, there are 120 of them.

On April 12, some 60 of the volunteers turned out to be honored at a special reception at the library.

"In the mid-1980s, we had 10 to 15 regular volunteers. As the library has grown in size, our volunteer program has also grown," said librarian Dolly Barnes.

She said that the volunteers have worked close to 9,000 hours at the library this year.

"We love the work they do for us. Some like it so much they don't want to leave their volunteering job," said Barnes.

At the reception, the volunteers were presented with individual certificates. The Friends of the Saratoga Library donated one book to the library for each volunteer who was honored. "Each book is dedicated to an individual volunteer and carries their name," said Barnes.

June Andrus has been volunteering at the library for 15 years. "I like to read a lot. I also like the smell of books," she said.

Andrus said that her volunteering job had helped her meet people and make new friends.

Lai, who works at the library for an hour every week and helps in shelving books, said that many of her friends at school have asked her why she is volunteering.

"I tell them that I do it because I like it," she said.