Nicole Hensley hoped her name would be called as the replacement when former library branch manager Katherine Ratcliffe announced she was leaving the Crawford location for the Bogart branch.
“I had my fingers and my toes crossed,” Hensley said.
Her method must have worked. Hensley is the new branch manager of the Oglethorpe County Library.
The former young adult program specialist has been with the library since 2021, and has played a role in developing many community programs, not just those for young adults.
New children’s program specialist Beth Akins and circulation desk specialist Laura Lindsey are part of Hensley’s staff. She said their camaraderie has made her — and the library — thrive.
“I feel like we’ve really flourished in the last two years, and we’ve built a really strong team,” Hensley said. “To feel like I can continue to build our team and make it strong, and keep the same, for lack of better words, vibes, was exciting for me.”
Hensley didn’t wait for her title to change to get to work.
She and the Friends of the Oglethorpe County Library have already made steps to renovate the library’s outdoor space by orchestrating a fundraiser to build tables and extend the concrete patio outside.
Ratcliffe has confidence that Hensley will continue to grow the library because of her dedication to the community.
“At the end of the day, leaving (the library) in the hands of somebody who is that authentic,” Ratcliffe said, “makes me feel really comfortable and confident to move onto my next adventure and see what the library does here.”
Hensley said she is calling on patrons to make their voices heard about programs and activities that they want at the library, even those that may not involve books.
“I used to tell middle-schoolers and high-schoolers all the time when I would go in for outreach, ‘What do you want to do?’ ” Hensley said. “What are you really into? It doesn’t have to be related to a book; we can do anything.”
A lifelong Oglethorpe County resident, Hensley said she’s grateful for the opportunity to foster creativity and fellowship in her home county.
“The library seemed fun, and it is,” Hensley said. “It has been a great job. It’s been the best job I’ve ever had.”