The Oak Ridge Public Library is recognizing long-time volunteer Buford Carter as part of National Library Week, April 8-14.
Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Mr. Carter graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He was drafted by the Army as part of the Special Engineer Detachment unit to work at K-25. However, Carter was inducted into the Army before K-25 was ready for employees, so he worked at Columbia University as a chemical engineer for a few months until K-25 was ready. After completing his time in the Army, Union Carbide hired him as an employee at K-25. When Carter retired, he was just two months shy of having 50 years of continuous service.
Shortly after his retirement, Carter began volunteering at the Oak Ridge Public Library in 1993. Library staffers say he has done and continues to do a little bit of everything, including:
“We can’t thank Buford enough for his past accomplishments and contributions,” Oak Ridge Public Library Director Kathy McNeilly said. “We are so grateful for is his continued service over 25 years. Buford is quickly approaching 20,000 volunteer hours – that is really something!”About Oak Ridge Public Library:Oak Ridge Public Library is located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The library serves a community of nearly 30,000 and features a Children’s Room with special programming as well as an extensive archive facility with materials dating back to the early days of Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project. You can reach them at (865) 425-3455.