CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston County Public Library is proud of the longevity of its staff. Many people love working in the library system so much they stay for decades. This month, staff member Marilyn Price is celebrating 45 years at the Charleston County Public Library.
Marilyn started working at CCPL right after college.
"I'd just graduated from Palmer College, that's down on Bull Street. I was looking for a job and couldn't find anything," she said.
Marilyn studied medical terminology and typing in college. A friend recommended she apply to work at the library. Marilyn was hired as a Clerk Typist in the library's cataloging department. From there, she worked in the circulation department at the Main Library for more than 20 years. She says she enjoyed watching families grow up before her eyes.
"From babies to an adult," she said. "They would come back and say, 'Oh, I remember you!' and I'd say, 'I remember you!'"
Now, Marilyn is back in the cataloging department called LCATS (Library Collections, Acquisitions and Technical Services). She says a lot has changed since her job in the '70s.
"Back then it was all manual work and now it's more computerized. It's smooth, it's a lot faster," Marilyn said.
In addition to many fond memories with people who visit the library, Marilyn says her coworkers over the years made an impact.
"Years, years ago I was telling a coworker that I've never had a birthday party. She surprised me with a birthday party and brought everybody to surprise me. That was a special moment for me from the library," she said.
Outside of the library, Marilyn says what matters most is spending time with family.
"We go every day and spend time. Every day is special," she said.
She also loves to travel. Some of her favorite destinations include the Bahamas, Canada, and Dubai. Remembering Dubai, Marilyn says the most memorable activity was "dune bashing."
"The guy would drive in like a four-wheeler and take you on a desert ride," Marilyn said.
When she looks back on her career at CCPL, she said: "I never dreamed I'd stay this long, but I did. I loved every moment and I wouldn't change a thing. They library's been good to me, so I have no regrets. Life has been good to me, yes it has."
If you think you may love a career at the Charleston County Public Library, check out our current job openings here.