Sara Noland
When you think of the Public Library or the High School Library in Estill County, one name seems to come to mind, Sara Noland. Born in Versailles on August 17, 1920, Sara has dedicated her life to the service of helping Estill Countians reach their dreams through reading.
Her trek through school began in the Woodford County School System. This is also where she got her start in working in a library. During her junior year of high school, she became the substitute for the Logan Helm Memorial Public Library while taking care of books in her high school library.
In the summer after college graduation she was hired as the Estill County High School Librarian at $90 a month. At that time Estill High had only 125 students and she was part of a very young staff.
Sara married Cecil Noland during World War II and they moved around the U.S. In rapid succession, she worked in libraries in Germantown, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Fresno, California and Eastern Kentucky University. After several years of traveling the U.S., Sara returned to Irvine and became part of Estill County High Schools faculty in the library. At this point, Sara got behind the crusade of the public library volunteering her Saturday Afternoons to keep it open. Then with the help of other volunteers the library was kept open each afternoon.
Next, the public library was offered a bookmobile which could bring the library to those out in the county. Through the support and generosity of civic clubs and individuals, library and bookmobile were in operation until 1967. During this time, Sara’s plate was full. She was listed as the public librarian, worked with the library board, maintained contact with the state library program and moved the books to at least four locations.
In 1967, the Estill County library was selected as a demonstration library. This meant that the state would provide books, personnel and advice about getting a library tax passed. This tax is what made it possible to build the present building and services that we have today.
The Noland’s have four children: Susan, Joel, Nancy and Amelia “Amy”. Both Nancy and Amy have followed in their mother’s footsteps having become elementary librarians. Susan works in a benefits office in Columbus and Joel lives in Lexington and works in finance at the Boone National Guard Armory.
When Sara moved to Irvine, she transferred her church membership to the Irvine Untied Methodist Church and has taught Sunday School, served on numerous committees and is the first woman to chair the church’s administrative board and board of trustees. In 1996, she was named the first recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award to go along with other awards and honors.
Since her retirement in 1990 she continues to volunteer. Currently, she is the secretary of the Estill County Literacy, does volunteer tutoring in conjunction with the ABE/GED program and serves on the Estill County Library Board. She is also in active member of the Irvine-Ravenna Woman’s Club, Estill County Retired Teachers Association, and the Homemakers.
Her trek through school began in the Woodford County School System. This is also where she got her start in working in a library. During her junior year of high school, she became the substitute for the Logan Helm Memorial Public Library while taking care of books in her high school library.
In the summer after college graduation she was hired as the Estill County High School Librarian at $90 a month. At that time Estill High had only 125 students and she was part of a very young staff.
Sara married Cecil Noland during World War II and they moved around the U.S. In rapid succession, she worked in libraries in Germantown, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Fresno, California and Eastern Kentucky University. After several years of traveling the U.S., Sara returned to Irvine and became part of Estill County High Schools faculty in the library. At this point, Sara got behind the crusade of the public library volunteering her Saturday Afternoons to keep it open. Then with the help of other volunteers the library was kept open each afternoon.
Next, the public library was offered a bookmobile which could bring the library to those out in the county. Through the support and generosity of civic clubs and individuals, library and bookmobile were in operation until 1967. During this time, Sara’s plate was full. She was listed as the public librarian, worked with the library board, maintained contact with the state library program and moved the books to at least four locations.
In 1967, the Estill County library was selected as a demonstration library. This meant that the state would provide books, personnel and advice about getting a library tax passed. This tax is what made it possible to build the present building and services that we have today.
The Noland’s have four children: Susan, Joel, Nancy and Amelia “Amy”. Both Nancy and Amy have followed in their mother’s footsteps having become elementary librarians. Susan works in a benefits office in Columbus and Joel lives in Lexington and works in finance at the Boone National Guard Armory.
When Sara moved to Irvine, she transferred her church membership to the Irvine Untied Methodist Church and has taught Sunday School, served on numerous committees and is the first woman to chair the church’s administrative board and board of trustees. In 1996, she was named the first recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award to go along with other awards and honors.
Since her retirement in 1990 she continues to volunteer. Currently, she is the secretary of the Estill County Literacy, does volunteer tutoring in conjunction with the ABE/GED program and serves on the Estill County Library Board. She is also in active member of the Irvine-Ravenna Woman’s Club, Estill County Retired Teachers Association, and the Homemakers.