By Renee Larr
Fishers resident and 27-year veteran employee at the Indianapolis Public Library, Cheryl Wright, recently received the prestigious Beth Tindel Award. Wright is the manager of Organizational Learning and Development and has worked tirelessly over the years to fundraise.
“The library has the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation that assists with helping raise funds for the library. It pays for a lot of our programming,” she said. “They named an award after a former staff member, Beth Tindel, who was just really interactive with them and supported them. So, they created this award and give it to someone every year who they feel has really supported the foundation and helped them and championed them to others.”
Wright has been donating to the IPLF as a staff member for the past 14 years and works closely with utilizing some of the funds from the foundation for employee training.
“The foundation has a staff development fund that was created. We take that money and use it to further develop the staff and get them training that applies to their position,” Wright said. “So I’ve been working very closely with them and monitoring the use of those funds and making sure the staff is getting to conferences and training that is applicable to what they need to learn.”
She was given the award at their staff day, which she helps plan and execute.
“I was stunned. We were at our staff day, which is where the library closes to the public. We have a day of learning and activities,” she said. “I head the committee that is in charge of staff day, so I was more focused on getting everything done. They were handing out this award, and all of a sudden I heard my name. I think I went into shock for a second. I was incredibly flattered and honored to receive it.”
For more about IPL, indypl.org.
