Staff Spotlight
Michelle has been the Courier for the AHJ Regional Library for two years, keeping the wheels of the SCLENDS system turning smoothly. She travels across Allendale, Hampton, and Jasper counties, delivering books, connecting communities, and ensuring you receive the stories and resources you need. Thanks to Michelle’s dedication, your favorite books are never too far away!
Michelle is truly one of a kind—a friend and colleague who always has a kind word or a positive outlook in every scenario! While she spends most of her time traveling between libraries rocking out to Brandi Carlile, Cyndi Lauper, or the Indigo Girls, her brief visits to each of the AHJ Regional libraries make a significant impact on every member of the AHJ team. She helps out wherever she can in the system. When she has time on her route, she helps fix shelves, assemble cabinets, and run errands to the post office for branch managers. Something that not only benefits our system as a whole but fosters strong, close-knit relationships among our staff. Building these close relationships with staff is Michelle’s favorite aspect of her job.
Deputy Director Abigail Barna-Ashley says, “Michelle is more than just a courier; she’s a lifeline! She keeps the libraries connected and ensures books are in the hands of our patrons. AHJ wouldn’t be able to provide our community with what it needs without Michelle! She is a hardworking ray of sunshine that everyone wants as their coworker! She brightens up the library as soon as she steps foot inside.”
Michelle grew up in the area and holds many wonderful memories from her childhood here, especially those spent at the Hardeeville Community Library and Pratt Memorial Library. As she grew older, she would often ride her bike to the library with friends, making it a regular part of her routine. She says, “My favorite memory was of Ms. Joslin, the librarian. She was an older lady with large round glasses, and dangling from them was her chain keeper. Every time I came in, she would say, “Hi, Meeeechelle”. She always exaggerated my name and pronounced it with a long “e” sound at the beginning. That had always amused me and made me smile.” These visits left a lasting impression on her, instilling a deep love of reading and a sense of community that she carries with her to this day. A tradition that we hope to continue with all of the community members who pass through our doors.
AHJ Regional Library cataloger Pam Pepples encouraged Michelle to take the courier position, stating, “I have known her for quite some time and have always recognized her as friendly, outgoing, reliable, and a strong team player. She genuinely enjoys helping others and is committed to her community. When I learned she was seeking a part-time opportunity, I immediately thought of her for this role, knowing that she prefers working behind the scenes rather than in a front-facing position. She seemed like the perfect fit!”
And truly, Michelle has been an invaluable part of our team! While she may not always be in the spotlight, her behind-the-scenes work helps make the AHJ Regional Library system a special place for our community.
We wanted to take a moment to highlight Michelle’s hard work and dedication. When asked what she’d like the community to know about our library, she shared:
“I have never had the pleasure of working with so many people who truly enjoy their jobs and care about their communities and patrons. They strive every day to make our libraries a very viable part of our communities that is needed, as well as a fun place to visit.”
Working behind the scenes and making a real impact on our community, Michelle is an invaluable member of the AHJ team! So, if you see Michelle on one of her runs in your library, take a moment to give her a shout-out for all her great work!