An Interview with Daphne Windham

Until today I felt sure that among our PLMI class I would definitely be the newest to the Director's post. Yet, I now know that I was wrong, and newly appointed Briceville Public Library Director Daphne Windham beat me out by a month. Although Daphne and I come from varied backgrounds and live and work in counties that are hundreds of miles apart, we share many of the triumphs and tribulations that are common in rural libraries, and despite many challenges, Daphne is forging ahead.

Born and raised in Anderson County, Tennessee, Daphne spent her childhood in the Briceville Public Library, making her a natural fit for the role of its Director. Daphne related that in her adult life she returned to her local library by way of her three children. As a mom, she sometimes felt the need to get out of the house with her kids, and what better place to go than the library. The role of library customer transitioned into working with the Friends of the Library, which then led to her filling the vacant Assstant's position. When the long time Director was forced to vacate because of health reasons, Daphne transitioned into the directorship beginning on February 1, 2013. Like all of us, Daphne struggles with the constraints of space and funds, but works each day to make the most of what she has, and this month will move library operations into a brand new facility. When I asked Daphne what she considers her greatest accomlishment to be thus far, she replied "we're still there." As someone who can relate to this new world of library Director, that accomplishment is certainly one to be relished.

Because as librarians we are often seen as that persona instead of our own indiviudal personalities, the public sometimes forgets that we are dynamic people with layers of history and personality. Daphne, of course, is no different. Her children are the fifth generation of her family to live in their current house, which in my opinion speaks volumes about her sense of family roots and the importance of tradition. Daphne and her husband have been married for 18 years, and while I will not share the details of their hardships, I will say that they have been incredible obstacles to overcome. From only the short time we spoke, I can tell without question that her three boys (ages 11, 13, and 16) are the light of her life. Like so many of us, Daphne did not set out to become a library director. Instead she began her studies as a paralegal and then moved into the waste management business within the famed town of Oak Ridge. These previous occupations seem varied for sure, but the skills she acquired seamlessly transferred to her new role as Director and have only served to make her stronger in that role. Daphne enjoys reading (naturally), she is a self-proclaimed lover of history, and enjoys writing whenever she possibly can.

I have no doubt that Daphne will sustain a long and successful career at the Briceville Public Library. I know this because I could see the passion in her eyes when she spoke about her new plans for her institution upon moving into their new space. I can also tell that she feels a vested interest in making her library serve it's people as well as possible. Afterall, her roots are deep in her hometown and it will likely be the perminant home of her sons and (at least some) of her future grandchildren.