By Miles Layton

When I was at Tuesday’s Tyrrell County Commission meeting, I saw a new face – Rachel Brown – the county’s new librarian. 

Here’s Brown’s story — please welcome her to the community! 

COLUMBIA — Tyrrell County’s Columbia Branch Library has a new face at the helm — Rachel Brown — she’s eager to meet the community she’ll be serving.

“Please stop in,” she said. “I am here most days, and I can’t wait to meet everyone in Columbia.“​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Brown officially stepped into the role of county librarian on Wednesday, April 1, bringing more than a decade of public library experience to the position. She most recently served as Children’s Program Librarian at Braswell Memorial Public Library in Rocky Mount.

Brown holds an undergraduate degree from Ohio State University and a Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University.

A native of Ohio, Brown said the move to northeastern North Carolina was a long time coming.

“I moved to North Carolina from Ohio, and I have always wanted to live closer to water,” she said. “I love the ocean. When I saw the job opening, I thought it was a perfect match.”

Brown said she plans to plant roots in the region and is looking forward to what comes next.

“I will be living in the region,” she said. “I am very excited about this new chapter.”

Her background includes experience in rural library settings, which she said shapes her approach to the work.

“I have worked in rural libraries before, and I enjoy getting to know the community,” Brown said. “I believe everyone deserves equal access to what all the library has to offer.”

One of Brown’s first major initiatives will be the Summer Reading Program, set to kick off June 9. The Aurora Fossil Museum will headline the opening event, offering children a hands-on look at dinosaurs and the chance to dig for fossils. Brown noted the program is open to all ages, with prizes available simply for reading.

Outside of work, Brown enjoys birdwatching, water sports and reading. Her all-time favorite book is “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH” by Robert C. O’Brien (Great book and movie, says this writer); her most recent read is “The Hounding” by Xenobe Purvis. She shares her home with a German shepherd named Carla and a cat named Muffin.

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