Jennifer Ensley named new director of South Cheatham Library

Following a three-month talent search, Ashland City resident Jennifer Ensley has been named the new director of the South Cheatham County Library in Kingston Springs. She officially assumed the post on Monday, Aug. 5.

The search had been underway since former director Sara Schultz announced she would be resigning as of May 14.

Jennifer Ensley began her job as the library's new director on Aug. 5 / Edward Morris

Ensley - a member on the Cheatham County Library Board of Trustees - is a 1988 graduate of Harpeth High School and former student at Austin Peay State University. Prior to joining the library, she served as an administrative assistant at the University of Tennessee Cheatham County Agriculture Extension Office.

As to what she aspires for the library to achieve, Ensley is still making lists.

“We want to partner with the elementary schools here to read to kids,” she said, noting that she's just beginning to assess the library's needs, resources and place in the community. “Right now we're reaching out to partner with community foundations to see what programs are available to us.”

The partnering process, she explained, might range from hosting guest speakers and demonstrations to assisting in promoting the library as a community service.

Ensley was formally welcomed to her new post at the monthly meeting of Friends of the Library held Tuesday evening, Aug. 6, at the library. Attending the meeting were Kandy Kapanka (chair) Jennifer Oles, Shirley Gogliotti, Corey Foster, Lana Foster, Clare Silliman and Charlie Silliman.

Discussed at the meeting was the need for repairing the library's front porch and refinishing the rocking chairs on it, the possibility of arranging an open house to introduce Ensley to the community and expanding the library's program of trading its superfluous books and related items to McKay's in Nashville. Lana Foster displayed several sought for books and games acquired in the most recent trade.

Cheatham County Commissioner for Kingston Springs, Mike Breedlove, has launched an informal investigation into the Cheatham County Library Board's hiring of Ensley after Lana Foster presented concerns to the county about the hiring process last month. Commissioner Breedlove is expected to present his findings at the county's monthly meeting on Aug. 19.