Vivian Little's first book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," was given to her when she was 6 years old.

That book created a love of reading in the 70-year-old Ball Ground resident that she still carries with her as a volunteer for Cherokee County's public libraries.

Her work with the Cherokee County Friends of the Library, for which she serves as vice president, has earned her the recognition of the February Volunteer of the Month from Families of Cherokee United in Service. She was nominated by the Sequoyah Regional Library System, which serves Cherokee County.

Marilyn Van Note, president of the Friends group of library volunteers, said Mrs. Little is her "right-hand person."

"I could not do it without her," she said. "Whenever I need help, Vivian is there. When I give her a call, she is always there to help."

Mrs. Little, a retired school psychologist, has been involved with the Friends for eight years.

"When I retired, I knew that I wanted to continue to be active and associate with like-minded people so I thought about what I enjoy most and what makes me feel most fulfilled," she said about joining up with the organization.

The Friends advocate for local libraries with state and county governments, raise money through book sales and assist at special events.

The group's main way of raising money is through book sales, which this year increased from one main event to smaller sales at each library branch in the county.

The second 2010 Friends of the Library Book Sale is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 26 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 27 at Hickory Flat Public Library at 2740 E. Cherokee Drive. A preview sale for Friends of the Library members is from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 25.

The sales offer new and gently books, CDs and other materials, and proceeds are used to buy new items for the library system's collection.

"I do enjoy watching the young children who are brought to the book sales by their parents. They look as if it is Christmas time with all the books surrounding them," said Mrs. Little, who with her husband, Norm, has two children and four grandchildren.

The Friends, she added, always are looking for more volunteers.

The group's annual meeting is at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, at R.T. Jones Memorial Library at 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. Admission is free and open to non-members.

The guest speaker is Jodi Ceraldi, author of "Redesigning the Mob: The Nina Cocolucci Story" and Georgia Author of the Year in 2008 nominee. Light refreshments also will be served.

Her community service is not just limited to Cherokee's libraries.

She also volunteers with the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Auxiliary, is a member and volunteer at the Ball Ground Senior Center, participates in a volunteer reading program at Ball Ground Elementary School and volunteers with her church, Trinity Presbyterian in Free Home.

"It is good for me and keeps me active and involved," she said about her work in the community.