New director began work Monday, Oct. 7

COLUMBUS—Polk County has a new library director. 

The Library Board of Trustees and Polk County Government announced this week that Marcie Dowling began on Monday as the new director of the Polk County Libraries. 

Dowling is a native of Chicago, but she and her husband have lived in the western North Carolina mountains since 2003. 

She comes from the Henderson County Library system, where she most recently was the assistant director at the main library in downtown Hendersonville. 

Dowling says being so close in Henderson County she worked with a lot of the staff in Polk County previously. 

Dowling was Polk County Library staff’s mentor last year while the systems were making the change to the state-wide Cardinal Inter-Library loan system. 

“They are a really motivated staff in serving the community,” Dowling said. 

She also said Polk County has two really great libraries and two great buildings in Columbus and Saluda. 

“I’m excited to get started,” she said. “I know just being here a week it’s a very supportive community, and that is so encouraging.”

The library’s Fall Book Sale began Oct. 9 and continues through Oct. 12. The library is open from 9-5 on Friday and Saturday from 9-3.