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Ashe County will welcome it’s new librarian, Suzanne Moore, on July 16.

“Suzanne’s done a lot and definitely demonstrated to everyone that she is a hard worker,” said Molly Westmoreland, director of libraries for Appalachian Regional Library, who made the announcement. “We’re so happy to have to have her, and I think people are really going to take to her.”

The Appalachian Regional Library’s governing board met via teleconference and approved Moore’s hiring, as recommended by the Ashe County Public Library’s search committee, on June 19.

Currently a Texas resident, Moore has deep family ties to Alleghany County, and hopes to purchase her old family home in Sparta to ensure it remains in her family, according to Westmoreland.

“I don’t think she’d mind me saying that,” said Westmoreland with a laugh. “It’s a very neat story. She said she’s sad about leaving behind Mineola, but said she’s excited to be heading here.”

For the past three years, Moore has been a public library director at the Mineola Memorial Library in Mineola, Texas. She earned her bachelor of science in interdisciplanary studies with a minor in early childhood education from Austin Peay State University in Clarkesville, Tenn., and a master’s in library and information science from the University of North Texas. Moore also recently earned her NC Public Librarian Certification.

She is also a former reading teacher, and was a circulation desk librarian at Vaughan Junior College in Tyler, Texas.

“A large portion of Ms. Moore’s current reading includes titles of interest to teens,” said Westmoreland. “Her personal interests include novel writing, needlework, and bluegrass music. She is teaching herself to play the banjo.”

Moore won the job after more than a dozen applications were submitted to the search committee, according to Westmoreland.

“The committee was composed of members of the Ashe County Library Board, our personnel manager, Friends of the Library, and myself,” said Westmoreland. “We interviewed four candidates out of more than a dozen applications, and were really pleased with Suzanne.”

Westmoreland said Moore would be tasked with supervising the Ashe County Public Library’s department heads, and will indirectly supervise other county library staff.

“She will supervise our collection management - the books that we buy - and develop and implement programs for library users,” said Westmoreland. “She’ll also help develop and implement programs and special projects for library users, outline cost efficient methods for purchasing goods and services for the library, and represent the library on local boards and non-profits.”