WARSAW — Duana Herendeen, library tech assistant at the Warsaw Community Public Library, received the 2016 Difference is You award from the Indiana Library Federation.

Herendeen, previously a pre-school teacher, decided he wanted to work at a library because he had always loved books and reading to kids. Nine years ago, Herendeen began working in the library part-time shelving books.

Over the years, he has worked his way up and is now a library tech assistant as well as working in the children’s department. Herendeen states his job is “Very fulfilling and fun.”

The ILF’s workshop this year, where Herendeen received the award, focused on the fact that libraries need to position themselves as more than just a place in the community with books but rather libraries need to evolve. Libraries have become places where people with or without a library card can take advantage of all the programs libraries have to offer.

Anna Jackson, a team librarian at the WCPL, nominated Herendeen because she believes he exceeds the qualities the ILF advises librarians to strive for. In the application for Herendeen’s nomination, Jackson wrote, “Duane is loved by patrons and staff members alike because of his friendly demeanor, answering dedication to excellence, and his genuine concern for the well-being of each individual who walks through the doors of the library.”

Herendeen’s underlying passion for his job is working with the kids who come into the library. He loves, “Showing them a book is not just an inanimate object,” but rather a tool enabling kids to grow and learn.