The Clayton County Library Board of Trustees has called a special meeting tonight at 6 p.m. to discuss personnel. The meeting will take place at Library Headquarters, 865 Battlecreek Road, Jonesboro.

While personnel matters generally are discussed during an executive session, appointed and elected boards must state the matter on which it plans to take action and then vote on the matter in public under Georgia’s Open Records Law.

Problems have been plaguing the Clayton County Library System for months. The county shut down the Jonesboro Branch, which, although it was not in the original building, had been the county’s first library. Problems with a failed HVAC unit and spalling contributed to the branch’s closure but the building also was in the path of the proposed new county administration complex.

Plaque outside the closed Jonesboro Branch, which designates the building as the Clayton County Library. (Photo: Robin Kemp/The Clayton Crescent)

Jonesboro city officials were caught off guard by the county’s decision and were incensed when the Board of Commissioners suggested a computer room in the basement of the new administration building could replace a codex library.

Then the Headquarters branch closed for repairs, leaving residents of the county seat without a library in their city.

In recent months, The Clayton Crescent has received several letters complaining about bad morale at the library and questioning whether all librarians’ state licenses were up to date. According to the Georgia Professional Licensing Board, Director Rosalind Lett’s license lapsed on June 30, 2020 and was last renewed on July 5, 2018:

A screenshot of Clayton County Library System Director Rosalind K. Lett’s license information with the Georgia Secretary of State shows Lett’s license expired over two years ago.

Georgia rules and regulations require librarians have to take 10 hours of continuing education to renew their licenses every two years. It costs $200 to reinstate a lapsed license. If a certified librarian’s license has lapsed, they cannot call themselves a “certified librarian” during that time. Failure to follow those rules “will result in non-renewal of the certified librarian’s license.”

Library Board members include:

  • Mapilar Dahn, chair
  • Crystal Perry, interim vice-chair
  • Brenda Harrison, secretary
  • Dr. Chantara Rumph Carter
  • Carolyn Boone
  • Brenda Pridgen

You can contact the Clayton County Library Board of Trustees at claytoncountylibraryboard@gmail.com .

Robin Kemp

Robin Kemp is executive editor and CEO of The Clayton Crescent, which she founded in 2020. She has worked for Gambit, CNN, The Weather Channel, Clayton News, Henry Herald, and numerous freelance outlets....

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