Clee Ace was honored by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.

DRACUT -- No one can say Clee Ace doesn't keep busy.

As a library trustee, she helps oversee the day-to-day operations of the public library. Ace also serves on the town's Open Space Committee, and several days a week volunteers at the Lowell National Historical Park. She also gives her time at Lowell General Hospital weekends in the gift shop.

Her tireless efforts prompted her friend, Rosalie Dunbar, to nominate her for hero status with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Last month both Dunbar and Ace learned she had won that recognition.

"I was stunned and surprised. I never thought I'd be given this award. I just try to keep busy," said Ace. But Dunbar was not surprised. "I was so happy for her. She volunteers her time all over town. She's quiet, intelligent, always shows patience. She helps out at town elections and never puts herself forward. I feel honored to know Clee," Dunbar said upon hearing that her friend had been named an Unsung Heroine.

Dunbar learned of the program, now in its

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fourth year, from state Sen. Susan Tucker, who represents Dracut.

Ace, 73, was born in upstate New York and settled in Dracut in 1982. Her husband, Jim, was an educator and served on the library board of trustees before his death in 2002.

Clee worked in the software industry for years, finally retiring in 1998. The next year, to keep busy, she volunteered at the Lowell Historic National Park, and a few years later joined other residents to serve on the town's Open Space Committee. It's an ongoing group that "has no legal authority," as she puts it, but instead recommends and advises town officials on what might be done with open space that becomes available. "The town often gets land. We view it, make recommendations as to possible uses, say to make pathways, open handicapped accessibility. Some land we add to existing open space the town owns, things like that," Ace said.

The library is her main love. Built in 1922, town finances forced the closure of the Moses Greeley Parker Library for six months several years ago. Ace's friend, Rosalie, was appalled. "I couldn't believe it. I went to Clee and she was upset as I was. We got it reopened finally, and Clee's been my best friend ever since."

After the death of her husband, who had served as a library trustee for many years, she was appointed as a library trustee. That was in 2002. The next year she ran for a one-year term and won. She won a three-year team in '04 and again in '07.

She noted that an addition was built at the site in 1978, with one wing of the building demolished at that time. Just two years ago the newest wing was added. "The library used to be about 8,000 square feet, but now we have 29,000 square feet of space. Circulation has gone up and up in the past few years, and the community really supports us."

She recalled back in the mid-1990s when the library closed due to a lack of funding. "The community demanded that we reopen the library, and with private donations we did so six months later. Then the next year the town restored funding."

Dunbar said her friend is a natural to be recognized for her work.

"It's the quiet ones you have to watch out for; they're the ones who get things done," Dunbar said about Clee. "They're like a slow-flowing river without rapids. And Clee has a great amount of humility."

Two hundred eighty-seven women from across Massachusetts were chosen as this year's Unsung Heroines by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.

The fifth annual ceremony and reception will be held May 14 in the Statehouse's Gardner Auditorium from 1 to 4 p.m.