IN RECOGNITION — Louise Caccamise stands outside the newly named Louise Caccamise Friends of the DeLand Library Bookstore.
After decades of dedicated service, Louise Caccamise is retiring from her role as president of the Friends of the DeLand Library. Before her term ended, however, her fellow volunteers named the DeLand Regional Library’s bookstore in her honor.
Caccamise has been a Friends of the Library member for more than 50 years, and president of the organization for the past 20 years. Her decades of commitment have not only helped make the Friends group a success, but now have a permanent marker at the DeLand library, with the Jan. 4 ceremony that created the “Louise Caccamise Friends of the DeLand Library Bookstore.”
The Friends of the Library board worked with ImageWorks in Orange City to have the sign installed during their annual meeting. Caccamise, who was unaware of the planned name change, was surprised with the honor after she gave a presentation on DeLand Library history and the accomplishments of the Friends.
The bookstore itself was Caccamise’s vision back in 2009. Though it took a couple of years to get approval and funding for the 715-square foot expansion, the library bookstore was eventually added to the northwest corner of the building.
The bookstore sells books, DVDs, puzzles and other donated items to raise funds for library programs, collections and services.
A retired librarian, Caccamise has written three books about West Volusia history, including Echoes of Yesterday: A History of the DeLand Area Public Library, 1912-1995, which was published in 1999, and The Minutes and Memorials of the Old Settlers of DeLand, Florida, 1882-1926, which came out in 2003.
Her book Memory Lane, published in 2013, traces the history of DeLand street names.
In addition to volunteering with the Friends of the DeLand Library, Caccamise volunteers with the West Volusia Historical Society, which gave her the William J. “Bill” Dreggors Award in 2019.
Shoppers can visit the bookstore at the DeLand Regional Library, 130 E. Howry Ave., 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
— Contributed by J. Sandy Hutchins, branch manager of the DeLand Regional Library.
