This week’s Spotlight is on Elizabeth Marvin, the new reference librarian and adult program coordinator at the Colleton County Library. Born in Fort Mill, South Carolina, she attended Nations Ford High School. She recently completed a graduate degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Marvin is excited to be in Colleton County, “I was putting out job applications right after grad school and delved into a couple different types of jobs; museums, libraries, a little bit of anthropology, which is what I did for my undergraduate degree. I found the Colleton County Library had a job listing for a reference librarian, and I had done quite a bit of part time work during my graduate degree as an assistant reference librarian. I worked part time at the Shannon Library, which is the main library at UVA. I did very much what I’m doing here, reference librarian, answering a lot of questions. I took a look at Walterboro, and it looked like a really nice little community to live and work. I saw the Rice Festival and look forward to attending next year.”
She stepped into her role at the library on Jun 16th and she explains her role. “The adult program coordinator handles all of the Adult Fiction/Non-Fiction, Bingo, Trivia Night, and everything involving adult participants like book signings. On the reference side, I do quite a few things. I decorate some of the kiosks and folding panels. I also deal with the South Carolina room, which is the large reference room where you can go to learn about all sorts of South Carolina history, both old and new. Also, if you have a random reference question or looking for a picture I can assist.”
Marvin says the library has a number of resources online, “We’ve got resources like Libby and Jasmine as well as Hoopla, which are available with your library card. You’re able to check out books from home, and not just books, audio books, e-books, movies, even Hoopla is a really good source, because you can check out something at the same time as someone else with resources like Libby and Jasmine, it is very much like the physical library.”
Getting a library card is easy, “If you’re from Walterboro or Colleton County or one of the unincorporated communities, you are able to get a library card for free. If you live in a surrounding county, you’ll have to pay a small fee, but you will still be able to get a library card.”
Marvin goes on to say they are starting a game night, “The Library will hold board game evenings. From 5 pm til 7pm any adult can just come into the meeting room and play some board games. Come with friends, come alone, bring your own board games. Just come and have fun. I understand that we’re open during the same time as a lot of other places and I’m trying to see if I can shift and make it more available for people who have work all day, but just want to be able to come to the library and relax, but don’t want to have to go through the process of finding their own book and making their own entertainment. I can just set out games for them, trivia or bingo. I’m actually going to work with the Children’s Director Jimmy to figure out what we can do for families. I may have some art parties, Cottageville will have them as well. Our Cottageville branch will have events going on as well. We post them on our Facebook page. There is always something going on at the library.”
In her spare time, Marvin has a number of hobbies, “I like to read. I This is the perfect job, because I’m being assigned books for the book clubs. I also like playing video games, sewing and crocheting. I like to do a little bit of everything. I also love swimming, so I’ve been jumping in the pool while it’s been so hot.”
Marvin adds, “I love the area, it’s definitely smaller than where I grew up. But I kind of like that. I like how I’m seeing people that I recognize every day just coming by. I’m getting really used to the regulars, hopefully they’re getting used to me.”
