Carr to retire from DBRL

Daniel Boone Regional Library Director Melissa Carr will retire in mid January 2018. She’s been at the library for 45 years in August and has been the library director the last 21 years.

The announcement was made last week.

“I still truly love my job and am very excited about the future of our library, so this decision was difficult for me. January seems to be the natural transition time for both the library and my family as we start 2018 with a new Strategic Plan and, hopefully, a simplified governance structure,” said Carr. “DBRL has an amazing and talented staff, a dedicated and wonderful board of trustees and a region full of individuals that care deeply about their library. It’s a great combination that has made this job such a joy.”

Carr began her library career at Daniel Boone Regional Library in the Circulation Department while an undergraduate at the University of Missouri. She received her Masters of Library Sciences degree from the University of Missouri in 1975 and worked in several leadership roles at the library until being hired by the Board of Directors as the library director in 1996.

“While our mission of promoting literacy has remained constant over the years, how we go about it has changed,” said Elinor Barrett, Associate Library Director. “Melissa has successfully led our organization through these changes. Today we have CDs and streaming services through our web site. We’ve added downloadable audiobooks and ebooks, online classes and other online research resources. In fact, our website has become the second most heavily used branch in our system. Melissa’s vision and interest in embracing new technologies has enabled this library to keep pace with the different ways our patrons want to receive information.”

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