At a brief, but heartfelt ceremony November 2, 2003, the Elsie Chandler Children's Library was dedicated to its namesake.
Surrounded by family, friends, and library board members, Chandler graciously accepted a certificate from Mayor Allen Green. Sitting on a bench on the deck adjacent to the children's wing Chandler shared how the wing came about.
"I prayed to God for this library and put my faith in him," she said. "Because of God we got this library."
After years of planning, the town constructed the 24-foot by 30-foot room in 2000, which has provided the children of Silverhill an educational and fun home away from home. On any given day the room, ornately decorated with animals rugs, Scooby-doo cutouts and a variety of audio, video and books, is filled with eager children.
Thursdays are storytelling days when children from surrounding schools gather in the library to hear Chandler regal them with stories from books and real life. Each child leaves with a book, which brings a smile to Chandler's face. Unlike other libraries, the Oscar Johnson Memorial Library still catalogs books by hand.
In that way and many others Elsie Chandler is much like the building she considers a second home. Although the building, erected in 1898, has a few years on her, Chandler is not letting her advanced age slow her down. At 94 Chandler shows no signs of slacking off.
In fact, getting her to accept a ride is a chore in itself. "I just prefer to walk," she said. Living only a few blocks from the library, Chandler can oftentimes be seen beneath a large sun hat, carrying a large tote, slowly making her way to job she has held for 75 years.
Chandler began working in the library on Thursdays in the 1920s when the Non Pareil Club considered closing the library due to lack of interest. Chandler, who husband Leslie, owned People's Supply Store, began opening the library for short periods of time.
Her philosophy throughout the years was simple. "If people want to check out books I will be here," she said. "If only one person came a week, it was worth it."
It seemed only natural that Chandler be librarian since her husband was renowned as a speed-reader, and was a frequent visitor of the quaint library. The Chandler children also enjoyed the hobby, and it was for her family that Chandler began the work. Today, she sees it as a blessing.
Eventually, others volunteered, relieving the load from Chandler's shoulders. However, to this day, she is considered the savior of the quaint landmark that crept its way onto the historical register.
"I have no doubt that through the years Mrs. Chandler has kept this library open and in good condition," Frank Kucera, library board chairman said. "She has been the backbone of this library."
Kucera added that for a town the size of Silverhill, around 630 residents, having a separate children's wing is an enormous accomplishment. Green said he thinks there may be more books in the children's wing than in Oscar Johnson Library.
He attributes the number of books donated and purchased to the hard work of the library board and volunteers who give hours of their personal time to keep the library going. He too feels that without Chandler the library would not have remained open for 105 years.
"Mrs. Chandler is one of the matriarchs of this town," he said. "This is her dream and I am glad we could make it come true."
Throughout the years Chandler has brought much acclaim to the small town of Silverhill. Most recently she was featured in an article in The Topeka Capital Journal, where she was named the oldest active librarian in Alabama.
As Chandler entered the children's wing her face glowed with appreciation as she made her way to a beautiful cake prepared in her honor. As she made her way through the crowd she received countless hugs and posed for dozens of photographs.
In the midst of all the chaos she had trouble keeping her eyes off two children browsing through the shelves of the fiction section. Once a librarian, always a librarian.
