Extra! Extra!
Longtime Foundation volunteer, Roger Krakow, attends an early celebration of his 100th birthday at the Burlingame Main Library on October 11, 2023.
San Mateo Daily Journal - October 12, 2023
Nicholas Mazzoni, Daily Journal staff
Volunteers, donors keep Burlingame’s library thriving
A World War II veteran has donated thousands of hours to the Burlingame Library Foundation for nearly 30 years, part of a program of volunteers like him who help fill gaps in needs.
Roger Krakow will be 100 years old in a few weeks, but it doesn’t stop him from giving back to the community. He helps organize, price and send out donated books the foundation sells. Every year, it’s about 60,000 books. The foundation then uses those funds for library renovation projects or other needs.
“It is a very, very satisfying job because you are dealing with nice people, dealing with books, and it keeps me active,” said Krakow, who added he tries to volunteer two to three times a week.
Krakow said he is blessed to have a very fortunate life. He grew up in Davenport, Iowa, on the Mississippi River. Krakow enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1942 when he was 18. At one point during his training, he lived in an empty library. Krakow trained to be a mechanic, but saw the airplanes taking off on the other end of the field and decided he wanted to participate in the fun. [click to continue article]