Ginger Shuler

The education and training Ginger Shuler received from the School of Library and Information Science has helped to guide her 30-year career with the Richland County Public Library in downtown Columbia.

Following graduation in 1974 Shuler began her career as the Hooper Branch Librarian before moving to the Children’s Room of the Main Library. Shuler remains there today as the Chief of Youth Services.

Her job is to oversee everything that carries out the mission of the library as it pertains to children and teens. This includes the management of the Children’s Room, outreach services, programming, and collection development. In addition, Shuler is responsible for making decisions regarding library services pertaining to children and teens, working with people and agencies outside the library, and advocating children and teen services within the library system.

Shuler’s job carries many responsibilities but she remains committed because of the love she has for her work. In fact, it is because her job is constantly changing and providing her new challenges that she finds it invigorating.

“The people I work with are dedicated to serving our community and providing the best service possible,” she said.

Shuler is excited about the launch of the College’s unique Alumni Society and considers that it is a good thing.

“It provides our graduates with a common community and a way for us to remain a part of the college,” she said.

She also noted, “Being involved in the Alumni Society is a way for graduates to give back to the college that made their career’s possible.”

Aside from reading children’s books Shuler spends her free time working in the garden, rearranging what she planted the week before and constructing a lattice frame for her garden house. She also enjoys seeing movies, especially at The Nickelodeon Theatre, and spending time with friends. Her most recent endeavor is trying to train her dog.

Shuler’s fondest memories of her time at Carolina include being a part of the Library School’s second graduating class and enduring the accreditation committee. “It was nerve racking but a good experience,” she said.