Delia “Dede” Sanders retired on Thursday, Apr. 6, after 29 years with Cameron Parish Library. Notable accomplishments under her leadership include technology upgrades for hotspots made possible by a Federal Grant-Emergency Connectivity Fund, partnering with Cameron Parish Pilot News to digitize more than 60 years of historical newspaper issues, added Cameron Parish School yearbooks and old Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival Cookbooks to the digital library for patrons to view online.

Sanders received the Essae M. Culver Distinguished Service Award on July 8, 2022 at the Louisiana Library Association Conference. After Hurricanes Laura and Delta, she created a bookmobile program using the library vehicle to deliver library materials to patrons in Cameron Parish communities. Little Free Libraries were also placed around the parish to supplement the patrons’ needs until library branches could open and in between bookmobile stops. With the help of staff, the library started a Lit Loot Box Program and a virtual book club. Before retiring, she got to witness four of her six branches recover and open to the public from Hurricane Laura and Delta with the Cameron Branch opening a satellite branch in the Cameron Parish Policy Jury West Annex building.

She served her community as a volunteer with the Cameron Fire Department, Cameron Fire Board, Cameron Parish Mosquito Board, CASA, Lions Club member, 4-H Junior Leader Advisor and was a Louisiana and National Wildlife & Fisheries Volunteer Award winner.

Sanders has always ensured that the people of Cameron Parish have never gone without library materials, resources and support.