Library Director Claudia Young is a 2023 Women of Achievement Nominee, sponsored by the Zonta Club of Jefferson City Foundation. At the annual Women of Achievement “Yellow Rose Luncheon,” Zonta awards and acknowledges the accomplishments of ten to fifteen outstanding women from the Jefferson City area, nominated by individuals from the community and the Zonta Club membership. These women meet the criteria of being noted for their exceptional achievements in their chosen field or as a volunteer working to improve the community.

Laurelanne Bellezzo says "Claudia Young is a driving force in our community. Her nomination as a "Woman of Achievement" reflects her own dedication --and that of her team--to serve the changing, and growing needs of the Jefferson City area." 

“It is because of good teachers, school librarians, and my parents who each nurtured my love of reading, learning, and intellectual curiosity that I stand here before you today as a community leader,” says Claudia. “By chance, as a young college student, I was asked if I might be interested in working at a small Illinois public library near where I grew up and attended college. And so began my lifelong love affair with libraries, which brought me to the great state of Missouri to pursue a library degree and later to Jefferson City to begin my library career. I have spent the last 30 years working in libraries and I am just as passionate about what I do as I was when I started, in fact, more so. I’ve had the most incredible experiences...and I have some of the best stories about questions I’ve been asked at the reference desk. It has been a pleasure to serve this community and to build meaningful relationships along the way.”

“I believe that libraries are true places of transformation. They have the capacity to help people become the best version of themselves. Librarians are community builders, teachers, and researchers and the Libraries they work in are an essential component of our democracy...a vital resource to the economic, educational, and cultural life of the community, and finally, I believe behind every great community is a great library.”

Claudia will be honored with the other nominees at the Yellow Rose Luncheon on May 16, 2023.