Cartwright named county librarian

By Lisa Majors-Duff

"I was sitting on a barge in Holy Loch, Scotland, waiting to board a submarine, when I saw my bunkmate reading Mother Earth News," Cartwright said. "When I noticed the magazine was published in Hendersonville, I thought that the people there must be pretty cool and that I'd like to go there.

"So I set my sights on Western North Carolina," he continued, "but it was a slow process."

Cartwright, who was working for in the Richmond Community College library in Rockingham when the position in Sylva came open, hails from the Allegheny Mountains of western Pennsylvania, where he said the winters are "colder and gloomier."

After eventually getting a degree and holding various jobs, Cartwright said he knew he wasn't doing what he wanted.

"When I looked at the list of things I wanted to be doing, librarian was first," he said.

That decision led to a master's degree in library science from the University of Pittsburgh, which led to a job in the Pennsylvania community college system, which led to a similar job in the North Carolina community college system.

"I enjoyed the community college system, and I thought I could do some good there," he said. "But I think public libraries and I are well suited for each other."

Cartwright, who was hired by the Fontana Regional Library System to supervisor both the library in Sylva and the Carlton Library in Cashiers, said he's "very happy to be here."

What he's discovered since assuming the position Aug. 6 is that "the library is doing a pretty good job providing services to the people of Jackson County, but we can do better," he said.

The main requirement for providing better and expanded services is a new facility, said Cartwright.

"We are doing a good job with the resources we have," he said. "What we need to do a better job is a new library."

For years former librarian Jeanette Newsom petitioned county commissioners to construct a new library facility. The issue was eventually included in the recent $20 million capital improvements program sponsored by the county, but budget shortfalls in other areas forced commissioners to reallocate funds from the library project.

Cartwright said in his short time here, he has already seen evidence of community support for a new facility.

"This is the kind of community that sees what needs to be done and does it," he said. "Our next big challenge will be to get the kind of library the people of Jackson County deserve. And I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of that process."

The father of two grown children - Marc, 26, and Autumn, a 22-year-old junior at University of North Carolina at Asheville - Cartwright said the library's current level of children's services has impressed him most.

"Coming from an academic library background, ... I'm most impressed with the whole interaction with young children," he said. "I think we can do a lot, for children and their parents, in educating them and entertaining them."

Taking that one step further, Cartwright said he'd like to personally be involved in programming for young adults, the 12- to 18-year-old age group.

In addition to the library's level of service, Cartwright also pointed out the high caliber of the staff and those in the regional office.

"The people working here are doing a great job," he said. "I think we are going to be able to do a lot for the people of Jackson County."

Cartwright encouraged those who believe library services are important to be a part of the expansion process.

"We are open to suggestions, and you are welcome to contact the county and ask for a high level of library services," he said.

Back to Archive: 08/23/01.