By Gary Lloyd
CLAY — Clay Public Library Assistant Director Joy Lee is leaving to take a position with Gadsden City Schools.
The news was posted on the Clay Public Library’s Facebook page Monday. Lee, who was the assistant director for four years, will be a media specialist within the Gadsden school system. Lee previously worked at the Trussville Public Library for eight years.
Joy Lee
submitted photo
“We are so happy for her, but will miss her greatly!” a post by the library’s Facebook account states.
Lee said the idea of pursuing a position as a school librarian has been in the back of her mind “for several years.”
“For numerous reasons, this is the right time for me to switch gears career-wise,” Lee said. “In a way, becoming a school librarian feels like coming full circle for me, and I am looking forward to serving the students and teachers at my school. With that being said, leaving Clay Library is definitely bittersweet for me. These four years that I’ve been at Clay have been the most fulfilling of my career so far. To see the library grow from a collection of just a few hundred items to over 10,000 and to watch our circulation and usage go up each month has been very rewarding. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the patrons and library board, and of course working with Karen has been a pleasure. I will miss them greatly, and this library will always have a very special place in my heart.”
Lee initiated the book club, one-on-one computer classes and various adult programs. She was also instrumental in the development of the library’s book collection.
“To say she was an asset to this library is a understatement,” said Clay Public Library Director Karen Moody. “I think we made a great team and I can’t imagine the past four years without her. I do not have the words to thank her for everything she has done for this library. The library, our patrons and I will miss her greatly.”
The library will say goodbye to Lee and serve light refreshments Friday, July 18 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Clay Public Library, which opened in October 2009, is located at 7257 Old Springville Road.
For more information, visit www.claylibrary.com.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
