Karen Denlinger, also known as “Mamma Goosie” is the 2019 Library Service Award honoree. Karen is a former York County elementary teacher who upon retirement walked into the Mountville Branch and asked if she could do story time. She has become a fixture of the library from that time forward, nearly ten years.
Karen created and continues the Mamma Goosie pre-school story time at the Mountville Branch. Mamma Goosie is recognized by her hat and 
apron and adding colorful elements to her story times including going on expeditions throughout the library to find missing animals or other characters, movements with songs, and a wide array of puppets.
In 2011, Karen was active in helping move the library to its present location. As Mamma Goosie, Karen organized the parade of books from the old location to the new location; this event allowed the library’s youngest patrons and their families to help in the move by parading children’s books from the old building to the new building. Some children carried books while others loaded wagons of books to help transport them to their new home.
Karen became a member of the Friends of the Mountville Library and several years ago took over chairing the twice-annual book sale; the sale in March raised well over $3,000. While still chairing this sale, Karen agreed to be President of the Friends of the Mountville Library during which time she introduced the annual plant sale.
Just in case she is not in the library enough, this last fall Karen agreed to a volunteer shift in the library. The library is not her only love…Karen loves to travel with her husband, Denny, who is a former US Air employee. Several times a year, Karen and Denny can be found visiting some part of the world, often via a cruise ship.
Heather Sharpe
Lancaster Public Library Director