Skip to Main Content

Staff & Volunteer Stories

Enjoy these library stories from the past, present, and future.

Scroll down the page to read more great memories!
Thank you for your service to the community.

A Second Home

 

When I was in the workforce, the Library was a second home for me. At the Bull Street Library, it was not unusual for me to be there after I got off of work until closing time.

 

Prior to the aforementioned, I started out doing volunteer work at the Bull Street Library. In 1977, I obtained a C.E.T.A. position (federally-funded) until 1979 when the funding evaporated. I was what they called a floater. Meaning I filled in at the various branches. Hitch Village was my first assignment. Later on, I would be at Ogeechee branch, Carnegie branch, W.W. Law, and Kayton Homes. I brought the movie projector and a film to show movies to the patrons. I also worked in the technical service and I helped process books that went to other libraries. I still remember the company, Baker and Taylor.

 

Now, I go to various branches as a patron. I feel that audio CDs are, as the kids say, "the bomb." (They're great.) They help especially at night for listening material, like a bedtime story. I often don't remember which track I fell asleep to and have to replay the whole CD the next day.

 

Ivan Bruce C.
Former Live Oak Public Libraries Staff Member


Staff Member

Passing on a Love of Reading

 

My mother took me and my brother and sisters to Live Oak when we were children to pass on her love of reading. It worked! When I became a mother I also took my children to Live Oak Libraries to encourage them to read and become lifelong readers. It worked! My youngest is now in graduate school studying to get her Masters in Library and Information Science. We are all so proud of her!

 

Amy D.
Parent of Tybee Library Staff


Giving Back

 

When I was a kid I lived across the street from the Bull Street Library and later on in my life I worked at West Broad location, which I really enjoyed. The library had always been a safe place when growing up. I remember the children's librarian always made it welcoming to hangout and read and do homework. When working at West Broad, I enjoyed giving back what I received from my local library in my childhood neighborhood.

 

Servatreus B.
Former West Broad Library Staff


Tybee Staff Story

Service to the Community

 

Well, I worked here at Tybee Library for 20 years, so I think it's the bomb! I am happily retired and picked up two "print" books today and will be getting back on the road for my new traveling life. One of the books, short stories by M.H. Austin, is about her experiences in the southwest desert, somewhere I hope to travel soon. Thank you for your irreplaceable service to the community.

 

Ellen O.
Former Tybee Library Staff Member


Libraries are Magic

Libraries Are Magic

 

Libraries were my magic, even as a child. Any book I could read, with no limits! Happiness is a summer with a reading list a mile long! They also kindled a love for writing. 

 

As I walk the shelves I swell with inspiration that, one day, my books will sit on the shelves and people will checkout my books (hopefully!). It is a quiet oasis, a creative paradise, and a haven for knowledge. In other words, a vital part of living.

 

Rachel F.
Islands Library Staff
Member


Sailing from Port to Port

 

The Library, specially the Bull St. Library, has been in my life from the beginning. We were in the library frequently as my Mother was a volunteer storyteller for the Children's Department. As I got older and could read books by myself, Miss McCall, the Children's Librarian, would let me look through the just-returned book, so I could find Don Freeman books, my favorite author. While looking, I would put the books in alphabetical order by author so it was easier to find his books. As I got older, I got to go to the chapter books, there at Bull St., and at school. Then the 'Teen' books. When I was in High School, I got a job at Bull St. as a page, shelving books, checking out books, and any other tasks needed.

 

When the Oglethorpe Mall branch opened, I was transferred there, again as a page. I was in college then, and, was drawn to the Library Science program at Armstrong State Atlantic University. I am glad I took those classes there, as when I went to Library School after graduation, I was familiar with a lot of the subjects taught and it made classes much easier. Armed with a MLS degree, I first worked running the library and legal library at the State Prison in Savannah. It was "enlightening" to say the least, but I survived.

 

One day, while in the library, picking up books for the inmates, I ran into a good friend who came up to me and told me that I needed to apply for the job she had open...now! I did and became the Acquisitions Librarian for the Library System. After a few years, I moved up to the Reference Desk at Bull Street, then at the Oglethorpe Mall, where I was the Branch Manager, and then I ran the Liberty County Libraries.

 

My last couple of years, I was made a Cataloguer for the system, which was very interesting, as much of the staff that worked in that department, worked FOR me back in the past, but we were co-workers now.

 

I retired out of the system after 30+ years of service as a librarian. My wife and I sold out and bought a sail boat and spend our time reading books, and sailing from port to port. We still have our connections with Live Oak Public Libraries, and, for some reason, I still get to answer questions for folks occasionally. Life is REALLY good, thanks to the Library.

 

Walter C.
Former Live Oak Public Libraries Staff Member


Tybee Library Staff Story

Love Being a Volunteer

 

My Dad first took me to a library down Lookout Mountain. (After ordering many books one month as a child and not realizing they needed to be paid for!) Then, I worked in the college library in the 60s. Now I've been a volunteer at the Tybee Library for two years--love it!

 

Elaine M.
Tybee Library Volunteer