THOMASVILLE — After accepting Trent Reynolds’ resignation as Thomas County Public Library System director, the library board of trustees named a search committee to work toward hiring a new director.

Reynolds is leaving the system in April to take a federal library job on Guam. 

“The board will meet again on March 15 and consider the possibility of hiring an interim director to serve until a new director can be hired if it is felt a new director will not be in place by the effective date of Trent’s resignation,” said Dr. Dusty Kornegay, board chairman.

The Georgia Public Library System will assist in finding an interim director if needed.

Kornegay said the board appreciates Reynolds’ three years of service and his work to update the library’s employee handbook and policy manual and securing funding for renovations to the main library in Thomasville.

“He has guided the library through the challenges of the COVID pandemic, and he has worked to keep library services available to the community throughout most of the pandemic by providing curbside services when the library had to be closed,” Kornegay said. “He also worked effectively with local school systems by making the library system’s internet services available to public school students during the school closures last spring. He has been a valuable community leader, and we will miss him.”

Reynolds applied for a $1 million capital grant to modernize the Thomasville library.

“The new director will be responsible for carrying out that plan,” Kornegay said.

The library board would like for the new director to have a state license or be eligible for a license and to have a vision for improving services at all system libraries.

Korgnegay said efforts are being made to increase services at branch libraries.

“They are not utilized as much as we would like to see them used,” he said.

Branch libraries are Boston’s Carnegie Library and others at Coolidge, Pavo, Ochlocknee and Meigs.

Many people use digital formats for reading, Kornegay said.

“We’re looking for ways for the libraries to be relevant to people,” he said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820