The Rural Renewal Initiative at Oklahoma State University has awarded Bethia Owens the 2023 Rural Renewal Citizenship prize for “being an exceptional role model, promoting community welfare, and advocating for community needs.”

Owens is the shared branch manager for Muldrow Public Library and Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in Sallisaw. She was nominated by Eastern Oklahoma Library System (EOLS) Assistant Director Christina Linz, with special letters of support from Executive Director Mary Moroney, and local retired educators, Dwight and Debbie Phillips.

“The Rural Renewal Citizenship prize supports collaboration and research to improve the lives of people in rural communities,” Moroney said. “I can’t think of anyone who does that better than Bethia Owens.”

During her 40-year career at EOLS, Owens’ accomplishments include working tirelessly to fundraise for a new public library in Muldrow— where the library was first housed in two rooms in City Hall. The Muldrow Public Library opened its doors at its current location in 1998.

Also through many other accomplishments, projects, and initiatives over the years, Owens has “directly or indirectly affected the lives of thousands of children, parents, grandparents, teachers, and visitors from all over eastern Oklahoma,” Linz said.

Owens will be recognized with a plaque and cash award at the Rural Renewal Symposium scheduled for Nov. 2-3 in Lone Wolf.

The Eastern Oklahoma Library System serves Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, McIntosh, Muskogee, and Sequoyah counties with 15 library branches. For more information, please visit www.eols. org.