Lynne Haynes, Kirkwood Public Library’s Home Borrowing Coordinator, has been named a Hospitality hero by Explore St. Louis’ Hospitality Hero Recognition Program. 

Lynne was nominated for the work she does making everyone feel welcome in the library, and in the region. Lynne started a Memory Cafe program at the library last year, and it has taken off due to her hard work! Lynne created a welcoming space for people with memory loss and their caregivers to come and do different activities each month, join others who are going through similar experiences, and create moments of joy. She welcomes each person, she knows their names, and even has chosen snacks based on what she knows particular attendees prefer. She goes out of her way to make everyone feel as safe and comfortable as they can. A visitor from the Missouri Arts Council was so impressed, they gave her a grant to continue the program with more involved presenters and set this up as a pilot program in order to use it as an example for other libraries. Other libraries have called from other areas to ask her how to put on a successful program like hers. She was recognized because she understands people’s needs, and wants, and how to make them as welcome as possible. Congratulations to Lynne!