The Gilmer County Library recently welcomed new branch manager Alex Thomerson to lead day-to-day operations at the local branch of the Sequoyah Regional Library System.
Thomerson, who began work here Nov. 2, assumes the role from former branch manager Heath Lee, now director of the Mountain Regional Library System that includes Fannin, Towns and Union counties.
Thomerson brings 13 years of public library experience to the position, according to a release from the Sequoyah Regional Library System. A speaker of both English and Spanish, he was previously employed by the Cobb County Library and DeKalb County Library, where he worked in circulation. He arrives here from Marietta.
“The people here have been very nice, and I’m very pleased to be here at the Gilmer County Library,” said Thomerson. “The staff is enthusiastic, and they do a very good job. I look forward to working with everybody, building strong programs and services and finding new opportunities to serve the local community.”
Thomerson comes on board at a time when the local public library, as well as other Seqouyah system branches, are still limiting live programming and indoor events.
He noted the branch’s recent transition to virtual educational program options, which will continue through the rest of the year.
“One of the ways we’re reaching the community now is through virtual programming, a lot of which is done on our Facebook page. We had a recent program on making candy sushi,” Thomerson said.
“The library is a place for a community to get together. Even though it’s a lot more challenging now with COVID-19, (we are) promoting our programs, like the Festival of Trees, on Facebook. We can still celebrate the legacy of that program, and the community can still come together to celebrate the holidays,” he added.
The Gilmer County Library, 268 Calvin Jackson Drive, is currently open for limited service. Its new hours are Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., noted Thomerson.