Meet Me Greene County: Melanie Morgan
Snow Hill - Neuse News is beginning a series to introduce Greene County readers to some of the influential, interesting, and decision-making leaders of our community. Consider this “Meet Me Greene County” column a look into what makes Greene County the special place it is to live, work, and play. This installment features someone who impacts our entire region: Lenoir, Jones and Greene Counties. Let me introduce you to Melanie Morgan, the Director of the Neuse Regional Library System.
Morgan shared that her role throughout the system is “an educator who believes in the power of libraries to transform lives. With 15+ years of public library experience, I am dedicated to re-envisioning the library to advance its role as a community-center committed to inspiring creativity, fostering learning, and engaging community. During my time with the Neuse Reginal Libraries, I have collaborated with community stakeholders to create a strong strategic vision for the library; increased partnerships with local organizations to provide programming and resources outside the library’s walls; built strong relationships with local schools to support coordinated learning and reduce out-of-school learning loss; and helped position the library as a community center by providing resources, programming, digital inclusion initiatives, and services that help advance opportunity for all.”
It all started as a teacher, Melanie shared, “I would often tutor students at the local library after school. As a librarian, I became friendly with suggested I apply for a part-time Library Assistant position that was open and the rest is history. I quickly fell in love with the profession and began taking steps to become a professional librarian.”
She attended the University of South Florida earning her Masters in Library Science in 2005. After leaving school, she went to work as a Media Center specialist in an urban school. She has worked in a wide range of positions, from that Media Center specialists to her current position as director. She credits this experience with “providing me with a depth of experience and knowledge of the important role libraries play in advancing community and equity. Prior to becoming Director of Libraries in 2018, I served for four years as the Director of Madison County Public Libraries, which under my leadership won the Library Journal’s Best Small Library in America Award.“
When she looks at her impact in Greene County and throughout the region, she said the most important aspect of her job was helping to develop new community programs. Those programs featured Literacy without Barriers and connecting with all three local school systems to create the Student Access program that allows students to use their student id number than their library card, ensuring all students have access to the library. She is most proud of her work with the Youth Services team where she has “have worked hand in hand with the Greene County Public Schools (GCPS) to develop the Teen Summer Reading Challenge to reduce summer reading loss.“
She shared that the library has designed “the Digital Resource Rover (DRR), a customized vehicle that transports library materials and digital resources to destinations throughout Greene County. A modern twist on the traditional bookmobile, the DRR offers free Wi-Fi access as well as provides a new outlet for library programming and marketing of digital resources to the public. The DRR allows for expansion and continuation throughout the region of many of the Library’s existing projects in the categories of workforce development, digital media training, STEM education, early literacy, and increased access to technology.”
When asked what Morgan thought was the biggest challenge our region and Greene County specifically faced, she shared that changing the perspective people have about libraries is the biggest challenge she and her team face. She shared that “the Greene County Public Library is a modern library that is open to all and offers innovative services, programs and access that specifically address and target the community’s needs, both inside and outside the Library. The Library has embraced the philosophy that taking an outside-the-box approach to serving the needs of the community should steer every new undertaking and that has led to a Library that is deeply valued by its users, prioritized by its community, and exemplifies the vision of our tagline: #WhereCommunitiesComeTogether. “
Her parting thoughts were to “ Stop by the Greene County Public Library and say hello to Rose, Amber, LaVania, Cynthia and Deborah who are ready to share all the amazing resources and services the library has to offer you. “
Melanie visits the multiple locations in the Neuse-Regional Library System, when you see be sure to say hi.
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