An open house was held Monday night for new Knoxville Public Library Director Ashley Miller. 

Community members came out to the Weiler Room of the library for an opportunity to meet Miller. Miller will take over for current director Roslin Thompson who will retire the first week of April after serving in that role for 15 years. Miller is a Monroe native who is finishing up graduate school at the University of Iowa and has experience working in the Monroe and Newton libraries. Miller has been training under Thompson while finishing up her schooling and she tells KNIA/KRLS News that has enjoyed learning the role.

“I’m grateful for the transition process because I have 1.5 years of experience I’ll be transparent about that, I am still in grad school, I went to grad school straight out of undergrad, and here I am lucky enough to do succession training with someone who knows what they’re doing and can answer my questions. I already know that once she retires I can text her and call her and get answers to questions. I’m very very grateful for this because I don’t think it would go as smoothly as it has been if this transition process was not there.”

There will be a retirement open house for Thompson on March 26th. Hear more from Miller on an upcoming Let’s Talk Knoxville.