EDITOR’S NOTE: See correction below.
COLUMBIA — A motion calling for a temporary halt to the hiring of a new librarian at the Tyrrell County Public Library was moved out of public view during a recent Library Advisory Board meeting, leaving residents without answers as debate over the position continues.
Advisory Board member Joy Cooper twice sought recognition before formally introducing her proposal, which asked both the Tyrrell County Library Board of Trustees and the Tyrrell County Board of Commissioners to pause the appointment or installation of a new librarian.
Cooper said the request was intended to allow “a thorough review of the support and grievances concerning Lynda Mastronardo” and emphasized the pause was made “in recognition of Ms. Mastronardo’s performance to duty and the expressed support of members of the community.”
After the motion was read, Chairperson David Kitts recommended postponing discussion and taking the matter into closed session, citing its connection to personnel issues. The board subsequently entered closed session, and no action or outcome was publicly announced.
The discussion comes amid a leadership transition already in motion.
Nate King, regional director for Pettigrew Regional Libraries, said the new librarian, Rachel Brown, will start Wednesday, April 1. Brown previously served as Children’s Program Librarian at Braswell Memorial Public Library in Rocky Mount.
The controversy surrounding the position stems from the departure of Mastronardo, the former branch manager of the Tyrrell County library, whose exit has drawn strong reaction from community members.
Amy Lowdermilk Odom, speaking on behalf of the Friends of Tyrrell Library, urged officials to reconsider the change.
“I begged for them to reconsider. Lynda is a member of our community, and any incoming librarian would probably not be able to be a part of the community because of our lack of housing in the county,” Odom said. “I also asked the board to consider that in the corporate world all grievances not given in 15 days were null and void. As I understand, the grievances were ‘saved up’ over a year’s time and were submitted in one day. I stated that if any of the grievances submitted were older than 15 days, they should be stricken from the record and only recent ones with recent memories of witnesses be allowed.”
In a statement, King outlined the sequence of events that led to Mastronardo’s departure.
“On 1/27 the regional office received a list of complaints that had been compiled over the course of a year. This triggered the need for an investigation,” King said. “Lynda was told what the specific allegations were and that the regional office received the documented complaints on 1/27. Lynda and two other staff members were interviewed. Based on the results of the interviews, it was determined the complaints were corroborated. Lynda had violated regional policy concerning personal conduct on the job and should be dismissed.”
King added, “When Lynda was given her final notice, she was given the option to resign, which she accepted. Lynda is free to share her final notice with anyone.”
He further noted that Mastronardo “appeared before the regional board on March 23rd to request reinstatement,” but “the board has chosen not to take action regarding that request and will not consider any further requests for reinstatement.”
While acknowledging her service, King said, “Pettigrew Regional Libraries thanks Lynda for all that she has done for the Tyrrell County Library and the community of Tyrrell County. We remain deeply committed to continuing the legacy of the Tyrrell County Library and the citizens of Tyrrell County.”
King also addressed reports of escalating tensions, stating, “Additionally, I’ve been made aware that some folks have made threats against some Tyrrell County Commissioners. The Tyrrell County Commissioners have always worked to provide the citizens of Tyrrell County the best possible services. They have no responsibility in the direct supervision of the Pettigrew Regional Library and threats have no place in our community.”
A few other items of note — When Tyrrell County Manager David Clegg was asked if the county commission can do anything to object to the installation of a new librarian, he answered, Tyrrell County does not have a role in personnel decisions of the library.
According to the Pettigrew Regional Library’s website, two of the three Tyrrell County representative seats on the Board of Directors are currently vacant.
The Tyrrell County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, though it remains unclear whether the issue will be addressed.
For now, with a new librarian set to begin work and no public action announced from the advisory board’s closed session, questions surrounding the transition — and the community’s concerns — remain unresolved.
Correction:
The original version of this article (published at 4:01 p.m. March 31, 2026) included a quoted statement regarding Nate King that could have created a misleading impression about his conduct. That quote was removed following editorial review, as it did not add necessary context to the report.
The article was updated to ensure accuracy and clarity regarding King’s role and actions. This correction was made at 4:41 p.m. March 31, 2026, shortly after publication, as part of our standard editorial review process.
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