SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – John Beers, volunteer librarian at The Village at Regional West, is going shopping for books by Nebraska authors, thanks to a generous gift given in memory of longtime Village resident Lola Sorensen.

Beers and Village Manager Karen Vorse accepted the $500 memorial gift last week from representatives of the Volunteers and Friends of Regional West, the hospital’s auxiliary of which Mrs. Sorensen was a longtime member.

“Lola Sorensen loved books,” said Beers. “She always wanted me to develop a section of books by Nebraska authors, and now we’ll have that opportunity.”

Beers, who was a librarian for 30-years at the Lincoln, Neb., city library, oversees the library at The Village, which is accessible on all three floors of the retirement center.

“We make it convenient for our residents so they can just walk down the hall and find a book to read for the night,” said Beers. “”We even have a selection of children’s books so our residents can read to their grandchildren.”

Beers plans to use the memorial funds to purchase books by Willa Cather, Bess Streeter Aldrich, and Mari Sandoz. He added that The Village will gladly accept donations of books by Nebraska authors as well.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,800 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, Regional West offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in Nebraska.