After 33 1/2 years, Jim Johnson is closing the book on this chapter of his life when he retires June 30 as director of the South Carolina State Library.
For Immediate Release
May 17, 2005
After 33 1/2 years, Jim Johnson is closing the book on this chapter of his life when he retires June 30 as director of the South Carolina State Library.
Hired in 1972 as a consultant for the State Library, Johnson worked with hospitals, prisons and handicapped programs and their library services. He became deputy director in 1979. He has served as director of the State Library for 15 1/2 years.
"Automation is the biggest change I have seen during these 33 plus years," Johnson said. "Automation provides a wider variety of information at people's fingertips and at the same time makes librarians' jobs crucial because they evaluate the available information on the Internet and elsewhere and provide patrons with the information they need," he added.
Under Johnson's leadership, South Carolina was the first state in the country to provide Internet access to all public libraries. "With Internet access we were able to provide every citizen in South Carolina access to a wide variety of information," he said. "Whether you live in the most rural area of the state or the most urban, everyone has access through their local library.
"South Carolina was also one of the first states in the country to offer database access (magazines, periodicals, articles, newspapers) to public libraries, K-12 schools, colleges and universities," he added. "Discus, South Carolina's virtual library, makes high quality resources available to all students and citizens throughout the state."
Johnson feels his greatest accomplishment (and challenge) was getting and keeping funding for the programs of the State Library. "We have had funding through the South Carolina General Assembly budget process, lottery funds, federal sources, Gates Foundation and First Steps. Each year is a challenge and opportunity to promote the importance of libraries as an educational resource and an economic development tool in the state and why they should be funded at certain levels."
There will be no rest for Johnson as he will be working for several weeks with the new State Library Director, Patti Butcher of Kansas. Butcher will begin as director July 1, and Johnson will introduce her around the state to legislators and library directors during the transition period.
Johnson, an LSU graduate and native of New Orleans, plans to watch lots of baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox, and catch up on his baseball reading. "I will always be an avid supporter of libraries," Johnson said."
Contact:
Ann Addy
Public Relations Coordinator
South Carolina State Library
Phone: 803-734-4385
Email: addy@leo.scsl.state.sc.us
Website: http://www.statelibrary.sc.gov
###
