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A good sense of the community’s needs and ensuring accessibility to valuable resources are ideal qualities in a library director, says interim director Kim Davenport. These are the qualities the George H. and Laura E. Brown Library hopes to find in its next director.

“One of the top priorities of any library system is to meet the changing needs of the community by providing resources, services and spaces that the community can use to expand their opportunities and education,” Davenport said. 

Brown Library is looking to find its next director after Sandra Silvey retired in June. Eight years ago, Silvey joined the library as its director and under her tenure, several programs were created to attract families from all over the county like tea parties for young children and a Harry Potter Halloween extravaganza. In addition, she expanded the local history room with the hire of archivist, Stephen Farrell and started bilingual programs with help from Abigail Cabrera, Latino community outreach coordinator for the City of Washington, Davenport shared. 

In talking about Silvey’s legacy at Brown Library, Davenport, who worked with her for eight years, said Silvey met the needs of Washington and Beaufort County residents by guiding the library through the COVID-19 pandemic. This included adapting the Harry Potter Halloween event, in 2020, into a drive-thru format to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19. 

Also, the library quickly “acclimated” to using digital resources like Libby and Hoopla, Davenport said. Registered patrons can download Libby and Hoopla to enjoy digital versions of books, magazines, audiobooks and movies offered at Brown Library. 

Silvey’s accomplishments speak to the relevancy of libraries in residents’ lives as a source of learning, social engagement and improvement of digital literacy. 

“It is critical to the community to promote lifelong learning. It builds a stronger, more resilient community where all individuals can actually reach their full potential,” Davenport said. 

According to Davenport, Brown Library has more than 20,000 registered patrons as of this month. During this year’s summer reading program, an estimated 9,000 books were checked out in just six weeks. 

“I look at that number, and am amazed,” Davenport said, “you’re in here doing the work, but you don’t realize how many people you’re impacting and help them get in their hands the things they need.” 

Davenport began working part-time at Brown Library in 2007 then transitioned to full-time in 2013. In 2020, she received a North Carolina Public Library Certificate and a Master’s Degree in Library Sciences both of which are required of people who want to be library directors. When Silvey decided to retire, she approached Davenport about being an interim director. 

The City of Washington and Brown Library hope a new director will be named this fall, Davenport said. 

She added that Silvey intends to spend her retirement exploring a passion for archival book restoration. 

For fellow bookworms – Davenport likes to read thrillers and biographies. She is currently reading, “The Running Grave” written by J.K. Rowling, but published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.