Darlington Children’s Library Liz Davis sits inside the book nook that she designed for children to use. Her last day at the library will be June 22. Photo by Melissa Rollins
By Melissa Rollins, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
The summer reading program has kicked off for the Darlington County Library System. For kids visiting the Darlington Branch, one face will be missing this summer as Children’s Librarian Liz Davis says farewell. After nearly a decade of working with kids in the library system, Davis is moving to Maine.
Davis, who is married to a native Florentine, said that the move was necessary for family health reasons.
“This is a big leap,” Davis said. “My husband and I talked and he said that we needed to move, we knew this, and asked me where I wanted to go; where would I feel like I had a support system. He has friends in Asheville but I don’t really know anyone there. I asked if he would consider Maine and he said, yes. I was shocked because I didn’t think he’d say yes. He was born in Berkeley County but was raised in Florence. He’s an adventurer.”
Davis said that leaving behind the life they built in South Carolina was not a step that they took lightly.
“We decided on Maine and we prayed about it,” Davis said. “We said that if we were supposed to do this, we would put our house on the market and it would sell. We contacted a realtor and she came out. We filled out the paperwork on a Monday night and that evening she put the sign in the yard. We went to bed and we saw lights. Somebody pulled up and wrote down the information.
The next day I got home from work and my husband was talking to some people on the back porch. I thought, ’Oh, do I know them?’ and I didn’t. He had shown them the house and they wanted it. We were shocked; they wanted the house. We close on the 29th. They were the first people that wanted the house and they wanted it that bad. So, it was meant to be.”
Davis said that she stumbled into her job with the Darlington County Library System but she has loved every minute of it.
“We ended up having my mom come and live with us,” Davis said. “I couldn’t work a full week so I left my full-time customer service. I was taking care of mom and one day I went into the library in Lamar. Rose Stevens, one of the wonderful clerks who has been there forever, was there and I told her that working at the library would be the perfect job. She perked up and said that I should put my application in because they had an opening. I worked six years in Lamar and by the time the full-time opening came up mom had already gone on to be with the Lord and I applied and got this position. I found that this is the perfect fit for me.”
Anyone who has ever met Davis would agree that the job was the perfect fit. One any given day she could be found reading to children, using different voices for each character, of course, singing silly songs or even teaching them how to cook.
“I love kids,” Davis said. “I’ve got a son and stepsons but I never figured myself to be a Children’s Librarian. I have music experience. I have theater experience. I love to read but I’ve never had any formal training. I’ve almost got my associate’s degree from Florence-Darlington Tech. I am self-taught. I have had a lot of wonderful people, my managers and the state library staff, they’ve poured into me and I’ve just soaked it up; I really love it. Serendipity.”
Davis said that there have been very memorable moments during her tenure but helping to develop a love for reading will always top the list.
“When I see the light come on for a reluctant reader and they start to love reading, that is win, win, win,” Davis said. “Also, when I see a parent who is pulling their hair out and I can calm them and help them think of a different route to go. When those things click, it’s fabulous. I recently had one of my students from back in Lamar graduate from Darlington High School, not only with honors and cords but also with her associate’s degree. That is pretty fabulous and I think any educator feels that way. She was one of my first kids in my afterschool program in Lamar.
When you find somebody who is an adult and is looking for their ‘tribe’ and you can steer them toward the library, that is so rewarding. Libraries are so much more than a place with books and a place to read now. We are a community center and it is going to reflect whoever is here. I am confident that the public will receive whoever is chosen with an open heart and will give them an opportunity. I will miss everyone. I think there will be a book that comes from all of this.”
Miss Liz’s last day will be June 22.
