Senator Robert W. "Wes" Hayes has been selected to receive the first Outstanding Public Official Award by the Friends of South Carolina Libraries (FOSCL). FOSCL is a statewide organization that provides support to local Friends of Libraries groups.
The announcement was made at the FOSCL annual meeting on April 9 in Columbia. Senator Hayes was nominated by the Friends of the York County Library for his consistent support of public libraries.
Throughout his representation of York County in the South Carolina Legislature, Senator Hayes has been a strong advocate for and supporter of educational issues. This includes supporting public libraries because of the vital role they play in the education of children, teens, and adults.
During the 2010 senate budget session Senator Hayes moved to override Governor Sanford's veto of funding for public libraries which would have cut $4.6 million in state funding for libraries. Mr. Hayes' efforts to override the vetoes were essential to providing quality library services to the citizens of not just York County, but all of South Carolina.
