The Todd County Public Library Board of Trustees is proud to announce the recent hiring of Ms. Amanda Leigh Hayes of Hopkinsville as its new director.
Ms. Hayes replaces Mrs. Audrea Clairmont as director, who informed the Board earlier this year she needed to step aside as a full-time employee to care for the needs of her family. Ms. Hayes, who currently makes her home in Hopkinsville, holds a doctorate in English Pedagogy with a concentration in literacy K through adult from Murray State University. Ms. Hayes also has earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Kentucky with an emphasis in public libraries. She also has two other masters’ degrees as well as a bachelor’s degree. Her experience in libraries includes her working at the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library, the Smith’s Grove Branch of the Warren County Public Library, and the Oasis International School in Ankara, Turkey. She also has experience as a classroom teacher both in the area and abroad.
In her library work experience, Ms. Hayes previously designed a library for a new campus and supervised 10 staff members during construction and during their campus relocation in Ankara, Turkey. In addition, she has supervised library assistants and has experience with budgeting, acquisition of new materials, cataloguing all forms of library media including archives, translating materials for use by those speaking Spanish, marketing a public library, and the development of programs for both teens and children. In discussions with the Board during her interview, Ms. Hayes explained she has always had a love for the library, and once she knew about the job opportunity at the Todd County Public Library, she immediately applied for the position.
A native of Hopkinsville who graduated from Hopkinsville High School, Ms. Hayes shared via text prior to her interview, “I’m grateful to be considered a candidate for a library position in such a wonderful community.” She also shared during her interview she speaks Spanish and has some familiarity with German. Obviously, the two languages will be of utmost assistance to our community since quite a few of our citizens are fluent in both Spanish and German. As most people know, the Spanish-speaking population in Todd County has increased in recent years. According to Data USA, 4.8% of the population in Todd County is Hispanic. That equates to 589 people out of the county’s slightly higher than 12,000 population. That figure makes Hispanic the third most common ethnic group in Todd County. In comparison in Kentucky, 3.5% of Kentuckians speak Spanish.
Ms. Hayes will begin her new position as the director on Tuesday, October 15. Ms. Hayes, the entire library staff, and the Board of Trustees encourage everyone to stop by the new library at 507 South Main Street when possible. As many already know, the library is a facility of 12,900 square feet of space that is so accommodating to the expanding needs of Todd County. Noting she was eager to meet the new director, Mrs. Sue Rose, a former member of the Todd County Public Library’s Board of Trustees for many years, stated, “Todd County is so very fortunate to have such a wonderful and modern library and such a talented individual at the new library. I am confident the library will soon become even more embedded into our community as the final touches to the facility and its accommodations soon take place.”
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
October 8, 2024
