A DUDLEY library manager is a finalist in the Library or Librarian of the Year category for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s annual industry awards for 2022.

The awards celebrate the hard work and talent of any person, group or organisation who has championed the broad genre of romantic fiction in a positive way.

Sharon Whitehouse, library manager for Dudley and Gornal libraries, has worked for Dudley Libraries for the last 37 years.

Passionate about the library service, she enjoys organising library events and has arranged numerous author talks, ghost story evenings, theatre performances and recently divination and palm reading evenings.

In her free time, she enjoys reading romantic novels and watching romantic films.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for the RNA Library or Librarian of the Year award. It is the first time in a long career that I have been recognised for my work and it means a great deal to me. Dudley Libraries strives to promote the work of romantic fiction authors, which is hugely popular with our customers, and we are always happy to welcome authors of romantic fiction into our libraries to talk to our customers, who are thrilled to meet their favourite authors face to face.”

The winners will be announced during the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Winter Party and Industry Awards ceremony in London on Friday November 11.