Oglethorpe County Library’s four-person staff is in flux.
As Beth Akins begins her job as children’s program specialist at the Oglethorpe County Library, current branch manager Katherine Ratcliffe is moving on to become branch manager at the Bogart Library.
Ratcliffe’s departure from the Oglethorpe County Library will be at the end of the month, but she said she will continue to live in the house where she was born, five minutes from Watson Mill Bridge State Park, so she will still be part of the community.
“I didn’t come to Lexington all that much, and being homeschooled, I didn’t know a lot of the community and people,” Ratcliffe said. “When I came here, it did feel like I was discovering my home of all my life for the first time.”
When she joined the library in 2023, Ratcliffe hoped to kickstart an adult writing group and create more adult programming. The writing group didn’t take off, but she said she’s reached goals she “didn’t set out to achieve,” including getting a knitting group off the ground.
She also painted the library’s outdoor railings and book drop box, and encouraged her team to dream big.
“I feel like the biggest success was empowering the ladies on my team to do big things,” Ratcliffe said. “We did wild stuff, got away with it and people had fun.”
Jessica Ellis, the branch’s former children’s program specialist, had the idea to host a petting zoo. It was a massive success and drew more than 200 attendees.
“She’s a great leader,” said Nicole Hensley, the library’s young adult program specialist. “She's really great at motivating people and just making you feel like you've really got somebody on your side. She always calls us her little rock stars.”
Hensley worked with Ratcliffe since she came aboard two years ago. She said she will miss her leadership and open-mindedness.
“When (Ratcliffe) first came here, one of the first things she told us was, I feel like I'm going on an adventure, and I'm taking you with me,” Hensley added. “We loved that so much that I made her a T-shirt that says that.”
Ratcliffe said the Bogart Library’s building is similar in size to Oglethorpe’s, but there are three times more patrons. In her new role, Ratcliffe will oversee five staff members instead of three.
The Bogart Library was renovated from 2018-19, expanding from 3,700 to 10,000 square feet.
“Bogart has exploded in the last 10 years, so I feel like I’m coming into a very popular and beautiful library,” Ratcliffe said. “I’m very excited to get to know Bogart, but you can’t replicate the individuals of Oglethorpe; you can’t replicate the tenor of this community.”
Joining the staff
Akins took over the position for Ellis just a few weeks ago and is responsible for holding weekly story time events at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays.
“I love reading,” Akins said. “I love reading to kids and just seeing their faces light up and just experience books.”
Other duties include helping plan and execute the library’s summer reading program, arranging crafts and activities in the library and creating book displays.
Ratcliffe said Akins has been an asset to the library.
“Beth has been so wonderful from day one,” she said. “I would not have one doubt about how wonderful it’s going to be both this summer and going forward for this library.”
Akins worked as a pre-K teacher in the Gwinnett County School System for a decade. She has a degree in early childhood education from Piedmont University.
“Her 10 years of pre-K experience really show through, in a really joyful way,” Ratcliffe said.
Akins originally contacted Winterville Library, but was directed to check the Athens Regional Library System website for openings at other locations. She said the position in Oglethorpe County was ideal because it was part-time and close to her home in Comer.
Akins will work closely with Hensley, the library’s young adult program specialist, who will also assist Akins during her transition.
“I’ve always wanted to work in a library,” Akins said. “Kids are my thing. This is what I do.”