Atlanta greets new librarian

On Aug. 5, the Atlanta Library welcomed the new librarian with a meet and greet hosted at Caffé Crema. Kendra Harrell is a bibliophile. Her love of books led her to a career as a librarian. Born in Arizona, she lived for a time near Atlanta, Georgia and then went on to graduate high school and begin her college career in Washington. In 2003 she moved to Texas and in 2014 she began to work in cataloging for Texas A&M Texarkana library. She then moved on to acquisitions at the college library.

When city manager David Cockrell set out to hire a new librarian for the Atlanta Public Library, he asked for three good candidates. Upon meeting with Harrell, there was no doubt in his mind that she would be the one. “She has a real heart for service and for people,” Cockrell said of Harrell at the meet and greet. Harrell took the time to talk with each person at the meet, getting to know those she will work with almost daily. From the City Manager to The Friends of the Library to everyone in between, she talked with each one as if old friends.

Harrell will begin her journey as the new librarian for the Atlanta Public Library officially on Aug. 16. She will no doubt bring not only her skills, but also her love of books and people to the library.