Librarians Build Communities would like to congratulate Wiley Magnet Middle School (1st place) and Kernersville Middle School (2nd place) as the winners of our 2019 Spare Change drive! Twenty-one Forsyth County elementary, middle, and high schools participated in the drive, ultimately raising $2920.76 for Forsyth Backpack Program—nearly half of the $6,810.76 that we raised this fall to purchase the food that we packed into backpacks at Conference.
 
Media Coordinators for the two winning schools were awarded Visa check cards that they can use for any library supplies they need, with Wiley Middle’s Laura Lyons receiving $500 and Kernersville Middle’s Ann Webb receiving $150.
 
Finally, a special thank you to the following NCLA sections that donated money to LBC so that we could make these prizes so great: BLiNC, LiRT, NCLPA, PLS, REMCo, SCRT, TNT, and WILR! This event would never have succeeded without the support of everyone in NCLA, from all of the Executive Board to everyone who wrote even a single note at our Conference table.

 

 

Pictured: Students at KMS who participated in the spare change drive

 
It’s a time of new beginnings for Rowan Public Library. The three-branch system will soon add a fourth branch – West – located in Cleveland. Director Jeff Hall retired Oct. 25 after more than 12 years in the position, and now RPL has a new director at the helm.

Melissa J. Oleen of Salisbury has been hired by Rowan County as the new director of RPL. She will oversee all operations of the RPL System, which has 78 full and part-time employees. 

Oleen has over 18 years of experience in academic, special, community college and public libraries. She has held several leadership roles at RPL, including supervisor of the Edith M. Clark History Room, Youth Services Supervisor, Library Services Manager, and, since July 2018, Deputy Director. 

“Rowan Public Library has a history of strong directors,” said Oleen.  “I am honored to have this opportunity.  The experience I gained working under Directors Phil Barton and Jeff Hall is priceless.  They taught me a lot about public librarianship, being a good steward of library budgets and advocating on behalf of library staff and users.”

Oleen plans to build on that foundation and has a strong vision for RPL’s future. “I look forward to building on the excellent library collections, services and programs currently provided by RPL,” she said.
Oleen earned undergraduate degrees in history and English from Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, and a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Indiana University Bloomington.  Oleen serves on the Board of Directors for Smart Start Rowan and is a North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal.