This was awarded to her by Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier for her special services.

Sabine Witte has been the chairwoman of Bücherfreunde Thiede e.V. for more than 25 years and has been instrumental in setting up the Thiede district library. She and her 20 or so fellow volunteers also organized two relocations of the library, which is now housed in the building on Klosterweg with a stock of around 9,000 books. Through their commitment, Sabine Witte and her team have turned the library into a cultural hub for the district. School classes and nursery groups come there for informational visits and festivals, book readings and events are held.

At the presentation of the Medal of Merit, which took place in Lebenstedt town hall, Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel was delighted to say: "Sabine Witte has had a decisive influence on the Thiede district through her commitment to the district library. When the book bus was discontinued, she put an idea into practice and took on responsibility. Through her hard work, she quickly found supporters who worked with her to build up the district library and establish it as a treasure trove of encounters and exchanges in the district. Her voluntary work is exemplary and outstanding. It stands for what our active urban society is all about - taking action, making a difference and helping to shape our city. I am proud of Sabine Witte's work and my very special thanks go to her and the entire team at Bücherfreunde Thiede e.V."

Sabine Witte, who accepted the award accompanied by her husband, was visibly moved by this honor and quoted the author Carl Peter Fröhling "A life without books is like a childhood without fairy tales, is like a youth without love, is like an old age without peace." She said that this saying, which has shaped her, can also be read in the library.