An Interview with Sarah Reynolds
by Ava K., 17
In Sarah Reynold’s 22 years as a librarian, she’s accomplished a lot. From leading the bookmobile initiative to fighting for funding, she’s spent her life making sure everyone has access to the resources they need to help them succeed. But she didn’t always dream of being a librarian. In college, she majored in journalism and later found a career in marketing. But after finding no personal value in her job, she quit—the first time she’d ever not had a job since age thirteen. But she found her true passion at the Dawson County Library.
Throughout her career, Reynolds has found that libraries are not antiquated shelves for books to gather dust. Instead, their use is ever-changing, working to meet the evolving needs of different communities. During the early days of her job, Reynolds explains that one of the critical purposes of libraries was for computer access, serving as the sole technology access in the area. Even though this was essential, the competitive funding in Dawson County made it challenging to meet everyone’s needs. Computer waitlists increased, and Reynolds explains the overwhelming process of wanting to give these essential resources to people but also having to compete with the fire and police departments for funding.
“We had to do a lot more advocating for our funding,” says Reynolds, “You’re competing with the fire department and the sheriff department to try to get books. And that’s a difficult place to be. You want the community to be safe, but you also need to value what you’re doing.”
Throughout her career, she’s worked to meet the needs of different communities, whether that be access to technology, multicultural books, or educational programs. As the community’s needs evolve and shift, so do the resources libraries provide. Now, libraries offer a hub for learning and engagement, no longer a technology hub in a time where laptops and cell phones are commonplace. Through her different experiences in the various libraries, Reynolds has worked to meet the needs of two populations.
In her next role at Forsyth County, the library serves to learn and listen to the community. Reynolds and the other staff noticed how grandparents often stayed with families for extended periods, and they also wanted to read. They started the new multi-language book initiative, allowing them to read in Spanish, Marathi, Tamil, and Chinese. These books are now some of the highest circulating books in the entire library, with the collection expanding to include children’s and picture books. Reynolds describes how it’s not just her helping the population, but the population giving back and providing her with personal growth and fulfillment.
“I’m enjoying it. Here, you can talk to somebody from India, Korea, Japan, China, and Ukraine, and I’ve learned so much. It’s lovely.”
As the leader of the Book Mobile, Reynolds has also worked to bring transportation to the library to those who don’t have access. Hiring bilingual staff members has helped bridge the gulf of information and provide the library’s books and education programs to everyone. Now, as the branch manager, Reynolds can oversee the library and make sure these initiatives reach their potential. She’s been a fantastic influence on the community.
Through listening to Reynolds’ story, it’s clear that a library is more than just a storehouse for books. Her story reflects her community’s trials in meeting the population’s needs in different situations. She describes the library’s beauty; People can use the space and resources to accomplish other goals. Every place has different needs and ways to make the library a community center.
Reynolds’s journey hasn’t been a straight path. Instead, it reflects the resilience of communities in overcoming challenges, the beauty of diversity, and the opportunities that a well-nurtured library offers. Through her story, we can embrace the unique aspects of our communities and recognize the potential within our libraries.
Duluth, Georgia
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