Joyce Steiner, who died unexpectedly in September, worked in the Children’s Department of the Lawrence Public Library for 32 years. And in honor of her work, the library has announced a special storytelling fund.

The fund, created by the Steiner family, will provide professional development opportunities for librarians across Kansas.

“This is such a wonderful way to honor Joyce,” said Bruce Flanders, director of the library, 707 Vt. “She thoroughly delighted the children of Lawrence with her stories … and the kids just loved her.”

Each year, as part of the program, a storyteller will be honored and invited to conduct the Joyce Steiner Storytelling Workshop in Lawrence.

“We wanted to find a way to keep Joyce’s storytelling spark alive for many years to come,” said Joyce’s sister, Jean Steiner, of the goal of the fund.

Donations to the Joyce Steiner Storytelling Workshop Fund can be made online at lawrencepubliclibraryfoundation.org or mailed to Lawrence Public Library Foundation, P.O. Box 973, Lawrence, KS, 66044.