On Thursday, August 22, 2024, colleagues organized a retirement party for Statesboro-Bulloch County Library Director Jennifer Durham in the community room at the library.
Durham has served at the Statesboro-Bulloch County Library since August of 1993.
"I have been amazed at all the changes in Statesboro and the surrounding areas in the last 30 years," Durham reflects. "I know that there have been some that people like and some that they don't like, but it's certainly been an exciting lifespan for the library while I was here, and I'm very grateful for the experience and the welcome that I got in the community."
Durham plans to return to her hometown and continue contributing to those around her.
"I am moving back to southwest Georgia, where I grew up, and I will be spending a lot more time with family," Durham says. "I'm hoping to volunteer; we have a great Humane Society over in Sylvester, GA. It's affiliated with Best Friends, and we have supported them since their inception, so I'm hoping to maybe volunteer with them."
In addition, she eventually plans to volunteer with her childhood public library.
Durham is leaving her position in capable hands. Her successor, Caroline Johnson, will officially step into the role effective September 1, 2024.
"Caroline has been with the Statesboro-Bulloch Library for years, and she's worked in all aspects of our library and through our library system. She knows the community really well. From the time she became the manager of the Bulloch library, we have expanded our presence in the community," Durham says.
She remembers the challenging quarantine days of Covid, but she can see things looking up.
"Now the library is growing again, and the community is ready for us and our future."
