A Job Well Done
The best thing I ever did when I moved to Monticello 10 years ago was to take a job at the Jasper County Library in downtown Monticello. It is at the library where I had the privilege of working for Tamala Alexander.
If you have ever walked through the doors of the local library, odds are you were greeted by Tamala’s smile. She has been a fixture at the library, greeting everyone who entered with a hello, a how can I help you and many times a hug. She has been the face of our hometown library.
An icon at the library for the past 17 years, Tamala is leaving the library to start a new job working with the Jasper County Charter School System in the front office at Jasper County Middle School. A job, agreed by those who know her, that will be a perfect fit for her smiling face, her loving hugs and her willingness to help anyone with just about anything they might need.
Born and raised in Monticello, Tamala always put her library patrons and her community first. A devoted mom, wife and daughter she is the epitome of inclusion, love and generosity. She is mom to 20 year old DeArione, 14 year old Drake and 9 year old Darla; wife to husband DeAndre Alexander; daughter to Timothy and Bonnie Mullins, and daughter-in-law to Kathy McDowell Baugh and the late Brian Baugh and to Joseph Alexander and granddaughter-in-law to Mrs. Virginia McDowell.
Starting her tenure at the library in July 2007, Tamala worked at the library when funding was barely existent and the library was only open a few hours a day for a few days a week. She also worked at the library when it was open all day, everyday of the week. She was there during the addition of the Persons room, an area that houses an extensive collection of art, architecture and interior design books and materials made possible by the bequest of Monticello native Thomas Persons in honor of his parents Thomas and Bessie Persons.
Tamala was the library manager for 11 years, responsible for staffing, ordering new books and for scheduling summer activities, outreach opportunities and events for children. She’s managed community service workers and high school student interns. She’s helped patrons on the computer. She has facilitated art shows for adults with disabilities. She’s coordinated art classes, visiting speakers and community events.
Betty Jean Jordan, a long time Monticello resident, recalled a story of Tamala assisting her with a community project. In 2012, Betty Jean had been in a serious crash in a bicycle race. As part of her recovery, she began A Year of Centuries, riding 100 miles each month for one year to raise money on behalf of 12 charities. She asked Tamala to help with an event to raise money for one of those 12 charities in Jasper County, the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, which included Betty Jean reading to children. She admitted she was a little nervous because she had rarely been around little kids. But with Tamala’s encouragement, “she was really helpful and kind,” shared Betty Jean, the event was a success and everyone had a good time.
A good steward, Tamala led by example. If employees had to do the work, Tamala did it also. She shelved books and checked out books for patrons. She sent faxes and emails and made copies. She helped patrons with unemployment benefits, job applications and probation paperwork. Tamala attended management meetings, board meetings, community meetings and local government meetings.
She searched for and ordered books for people when the library didn’t have them. She knew which genres and which authors patrons liked to read and would order books for people based on their interests even when they didn’t ask for them, knowing they would enjoy the latest books by their favorite authors. And, for patrons who couldn’t make it into the library, Tamala would often deliver books to them at their homes.
On a social media post about Tamala’s last few days at the library, she’s had over 250 people respond to her leaving with over 175 comments from friends, family and community members. Sprinkled throughout the comments are congratulations and well wishes, sadness and we will miss yous, thoughts on how the library won’t be the same without her, exclamations of pride in both her work at the library and her new job at the middle school and joy and happiness that Tamala will be working in the school system. As one person stated perfectly, “Such a huge fanbase. That speaks for itself.”
Tiffani Hendrix Salembier stated, “Tamala has been such an asset to the Jasper County Library! I loved walking in and seeing her smiling face. She is so sweet to my grandson and is always helping people. We’ll miss her so much but I’m excited for her new adventure.”
Amy Scroggs added, “I taught Tamala in high school and she was an excellent student in my business classes. She had a friendly, outgoing personality that made her a perfect fit for the job at the library. Over the years, I have loved seeing her at the library in the summers and her positive attitude is contagious. She made the library a fun place to visit. I know that she will be missed so much at the library, but I’m looking forward to having her in the school system with me. She will no doubt be an asset at the middle school. The students and teachers will absolutely love her!”
From Allison Claborn, “We will miss you at the library but I’m so happy you are going to be part of the school system.” And, Leslie Minter said, “Congratulations, Tamala. Job well done. You will be a big asset to Monticello’s Middle School.”
Mary Camp, an avid library patron and active community member herself, a former Jasper County Library Board member and Friends of the Library member shared, “Tamala is so friendly and so helpful if you wanted to know something about a book. She’s so precious. I have enjoyed her so much and I sure am going to miss her. She’s just part of our library.
You just looked forward to seeing her every time you went to the library. It’s not going to be the same without her. But, time goes on. The middle school is lucky to have her. She knows so many people. She is a special person. She will be a part of our lives and the library forever.”
Tamala talked about her leaving the job she’s had for 17 years as bittersweet. “I’ll miss my library workers and my older patrons the most,” she said, “and all the families and children I see everyday,” sharing that she’s seen many of the children at the library grow up over the years. She is excited to see some of those same families and children in her new job at the middle school and looks forward to continuing to work with them and others.
Tamala has given her community a loving, generous and safe space for the past 17 years. Her generous spirit and her willingness to help each and every library patron, will be greatly missed. The Jasper County Library and the Azalea Library System won’t be the same without her.
I think Mary Camp said it best, “She will be a part of our lives and the library forever.”
