Melanie Collins
Full and Vibrant Career, Started at CCCC
"I felt at home at Central Carolina ... There were people like me, with work and families, going back to school."
In 2008, after 35 years of service to the community through the library - 19 as director - Melanie Collins retired from the Harnett County Library system.
Meeting the public's desire for entertainment and education through books and other media had been her professional life. The desire to be a professional librarian started in high school, when she worked part-time at the Harnett County Library. After graduation, she briefly worked elsewhere, but returned to her first love full-time.
Melanie said the educational path to her successful career started at Central Carolina Community College. She attended night classes for four years to earn her university transfer credits, then transferred seamlessly to Campbell University for her bachelor's in education. She went on to N.C. Central University for her Master in Library Science.
"I felt at home at Central Carolina," Melanie said. "There were people like me, with work and families, going back to school. I loved my advisor. She encouraged me to get a teaching certificate. Though I never taught, the skills I learned helped me as a librarian. I recommend Central Carolina."
