Faith Line, Library Director, Retiring
After 13 years of leading the Anderson County Library System, Faith Line will retire as director at the end of April.
Faith began her public library career with the Pickens County Library System. She served as the director of the Sumter County Library for 21 years before becoming the director of the Anderson County Library System in 2007, after Carl Stone’s retirement.
“We been very fortunate to have had Faith heading up one of our most indispensable community assets. She has led the way for the Anderson Library System as it embraced the opportunities of this new century, all the while understanding and nurturing the institution’s role as a repository for our community heritage. As a library patron and a friend, I thank her for her service and wish her best wishes for what lies ahead,” says Rusty Burns, Anderson County Administrator.
Under Faith’s leadership, the Library System joined the SCLends consortium, which she helped found, to provide increased access to books and materials for library patrons. She has overseen the expansion of library services including the beginning of eBook lending, which has now grown to include eBooks, digital audiobooks, streaming content, and even online classes. The Library has also expanded to circulate fishing poles, learning tablets for children, seeds through the Seed Library, alongside the books, audiobooks, movies, and magazines.
Faith has always focused on keeping the Library relevant to the community and meeting the needs of the people of Anderson County. She has overseen remodeling projects for six of the county’s nine library branches, as well as the establishment of the Gambrell Teen Room and the Electric City Creative makerspace at the Anderson Main Library. She expanded programming for all ages, particularly with the Library’s annual Summer Reading program and past events such as the Electric City ComiCon and How-To Fair.
“We have been extremely fortunate to have Faith as the director of the Anderson County Library System,” says Julie Hart, Library Board of Trustees chair. “Her focus has always been on providing what the library patrons and staff need now and in the future.”
She received the Outstanding Librarian award from the South Carolina Library Association (SCLA) in 1993, and in 2019 was inducted into the SCLA Hall of Fame. In 2018, the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce awarded her the Athena Award for professional excellence, community service, and actively assisting women in professional excellence. Under her tenure, the Anderson County Library System was named the best library system in South Carolina, earning a proclamation from Anderson County Council.
Her service and sense of community extends beyond the Library as well. She has volunteered and served on the boards of the Alston-Wilkes Society, First Steps, Foothills Alliance, Anderson Chamber of Commerce, and Anderson University Lifelong Learning. She has been a community impact volunteer with United Way for over 10 years, including support of the Snack Pack program and literacy-based initiatives, and a member of the Rotary Club of Anderson since 2013.
Assistant Director Annie Sutton will serve as the Interim Director and the Library Board of Trustees will begin the search for a new library director.