Courtney Thomas was named the Hancock County Library System’s (HCLS) new Executive Director by the HCLS Board of Trustees. Thomas had been serving as Interim Executive Director since February 1, 2013.

She began her career when she was a high school junior, working as a shelver at the Bay St. Louis-Hancock County Library. She then went on to college and came back to the same library as a Reference Assistant. She worked at NASA Space Center and Hancock Medical Center, until returning to the library system in June, 2010, as Personnel/Grants Officer.

“The library seems to be in my destiny,” said Thomas, who is also a native of Hancock County. “I love the library and the services it provides the citizens of Hancock County and surrounding communities. The team here is awesome and I am proud to be able to assist in moving them and the library system forward.” Thomas holds Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and is currently enrolled in the Master of Library and Information Science program at the University of Southern Mississippi.

“We are pleased to have Courtney fill the Executive Director position,” said Dolly Lundberg, HCLS Board of Trustees Chairman. “She has done an excellent job as Interim Executive Director, and we know she will continue to perform well as Executive Director.”

She was also recently named the sole recipient of the Public Librarian Scholarship by the Mississippi Library Commission.

The scholarship is part of the Library Services and Technology Act grant program administered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.The grant, in the amount of $10,000, covers the tuition costs associated with Thomas’ enrollment in the Master’s Degree in Library Science program at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is scheduled to complete the coursework and receive her master’s degree in December 2015.

“In any library, it is always so important to employ staff members who have their MLIS degrees,” Thomas said. “However, the cost of graduate school is quite steep, so receiving this scholarship will definitely be a great help to me. I am excited about receiving this grant to complete my education in library and information services.”