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December 13, 2002/Tevet 8 5763, Vol. 55, No. 16
'Time out' for tribute
Library honors special employee
BARRY COHEN
Editor
Joel Hornstein receives an appreciation award from Deborah Tasnadi, left, branch manager of the North Central Regional Library in Phoenix and Harry Courtright, director of the Maricopa County Library District.
Photo courtesy of Nancy Hurley
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The staff of the North Central Regional Library in Phoenix recently halted its routine and for a half-hour held a celebration for Joel Hornstein, a circulation staff member, for his accomplishments.
According to Nancy Hurley, his supervisor, in the time it takes one of his co-workers to reshelve two carts of books, he can reshelve five carts of books. He can scan an entire row of books for a few seconds and know if one book is out of place. He does not complain and he does not call in sick, she adds about Hornstein, who has autism.
The library named Dec. 2 "Joel Hornstein Appreciation Day."
"We do not call what he has a disability," says Hurley. "He gives us a different perspective of what normal is, of what a disability is."
The idea to recognize Hornstein came from his co-workers, says Becca Hornstein, Joel's mother and executive director of the Council for Jews with Special Needs.
"They wanted to celebrate a co-worker for the enthusiasm he brings to work every day," she says.
But working with him requires special patience and understanding; it is a challenge to communicate because he depends upon sign language, she explains.
"I think instead of 'Celebrate Joel Day,' it was 'celebrate the staff day,' " she notes.
Joel Hornstein, who has worked at the library for eight years, received presents from the staff as part of the celebration. They placed a banner in the circulation department with a picture of him shelving books. His co-workers wore badges with "good job, Joel" printed on them, a reference to how they compliment him when he completes a task. There was music by Billy Joel - his favorite artist - playing all day in the circulation department.
In addition, Harry Courtright, director of the Maricopa County Library District, presented Hornstein with an award: a sculpture of a man pushing a large ball up a hill, with an inscription reading in part, "for facing challenges with determination."
Hornstein also received a photo album with pictures of his co-workers, each including a personal note of congratulations. His fellow employees also gave him a new Tetris for Game Boy, his favorite video game.
Working in the circulation department of a library turns Hornstein's autism into a skill, says Becca Hornstein. "He is a mathematical and memory savant. ... He takes great pleasure and pride in putting things in order."
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