Jessica Duzan — Saluda County Library Director (Saluda, South Carolina)
At the Saluda County Library, serving a rural population of just over 19,000, personal connection is everything. “What makes us unique is the personal relationships we build,” says Library Director Jessica Duzan. “We’re small enough that my staff knows nearly every patron by name. They ask about family members and personal projects. It’s those little moments that matter.”
Jessica is most proud of her hardworking team, who bring warmth and innovation to everything they do. With limited resources, they’ve launched impactful initiatives like a thriving seed library to support local agriculture, early literacy-focused storytimes, and expanded programming for all ages. One of their most popular additions is a monthly market that gives local entrepreneurs a chance to shine.
This summer, the library stepped up to address food insecurity by becoming a summer meals site, offering free breakfast and lunch to children. They also became a FoodShare SC site, providing fresh produce boxes that can be purchased with SNAP/EBT. “In our first week, some patrons bought produce just to donate to families in need,” Jessica shared. “It brought me to tears.”
Additionally, Saluda County Library was recently named one of the 2025 ALA Building Library Capacity grantees—a recognition of their deep commitment to innovation, inclusion, and meaningful community impact. With sixteen percent of Saluda County residents identifying as Latino, the library will use this funding to empower the community by expanding access to education, career opportunities, and legal support.
Jessica is especially excited about the upcoming New Americans initiative, which will include circulating citizenship toolkits, hosting information sessions on immigration, education, and housing, and introducing virtual reality tools to support English language learning and workforce development. These resources will help build language skills, boost confidence, and improve employability across the community.
Before becoming a director, Jessica worked in larger library systems. Joining ARSL gave her the community of peers she needed. “What worked elsewhere didn’t always work here,” she said. “ARSL helped me connect with people who really understood rural libraries.”
To those new to small-town librarianship, she advises:
“Get out in the community. Eat local, shop local, show up at council meetings.
That’s how you build trust and partnerships that last.”
ALA Building Library Capacity Grantees 2025
Written by the ARSL Office
