By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Columbiana Public Library’s new enthusiastic Library Director is Dutcha Lawson.

Lawson plans to continue with established monthly programs and to add at least one special program a month.

Lawson grew up in Boaz, is married with two children, and graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s in business management and a master’s in library and information studies. She was named library director in July 2012. One of Lawson’s goals is to increase lines of communication with the community. She has met with the media specialists at Elvin Hill Elementary, Columbiana Middle and Shelby County High School to establish a good partnership between the schools and the library.

She has started a Teen Advisory Board of nine middle and high school students for input to improve or develop new programs for the youth at the library.

March’s “Reading Buddy Program” is the Teen Advisory’s idea. Recently, the Columbiana Public Library, middle and high school students read Dr. Seuss books to young children as their reading buddy. Dr. Seuss’ hats were given out, activities were played, and the event ended with a Dr. Seuss birthday cake. Dr. Seuss is the theme at Elvin Hill this year.

Lawson is updating the media library using a $7,000 grant to transfer VHS to DVD movies and cassette to CD books on tape. She has placed the library events calendar on the city of Columbiana’s website: see Cityofcolumbiana.com and click on city departments tab, library.

The monthly events are humming along: Storytime with Ms. Jennie Bunton for young children – every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.; Bridge Club – every Friday from 9:15 a.m.-1 p.m. at Bernie’s Restaurant; Friends of Library — second Tuesday of month at 1 p.m.; Quilts for Kids – second Saturday of month from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Loose Stitches Knitting — every Tuesday of month from 9:30 a.m.-noon; and Book Group – fourth Tuesday of month at 6 p.m.

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by email at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.