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Commending Sheila Umberger.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 9, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, March 11, 2026
WHEREAS, Sheila Umberger, an esteemed librarian who has greatly served the Roanoke community for more than two decades as the director of Roanoke Public Libraries, retired on January 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Sheila Umberger was hired by Roanoke Public Libraries in 1982 to convert the library system's traditional card catalog into computer coding; and
WHEREAS, as a result of her leadership, expertise, and commitment to excellence, Sheila Umberger was later promoted to serve as director of Roanoke Public Libraries; and
WHEREAS, for more than 20 years as the head of Roanoke Public Libraries, Sheila Umberger dedicated herself to inspiring an interest in reading and learning in young people while effectively responding to the ever-changing needs of the community; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Sheila Umberger spearheaded the Star City Reads initiative to help ensure that all students in Roanoke could read proficiently by the end of third grade, an endeavor that earned her the American Library Association's Peggy Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children in 2016; and
WHEREAS, with great passion, creativity, and sense of purpose, Sheila Umberger has cemented Roanoke Public Libraries' reputation as a vital institution in the community and an important part of what makes Roanoke a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Sheila Umberger for her legacy of service with Roanoke Public Libraries on the occasion of her retirement; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Sheila Umberger as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her contributions to Roanoke and the Commonwealth and best wishes for a joyful and fulfilling retirement.