Library director McBride receives S.C. Outstanding Librarian award

Ray McBride, the director of the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library, has received the 2009 S.C. Library Association Outstanding Librarian award.

The S.C. Library Association was instituted in 1915. Its purpose is to advance interest and development of libraries.

The association annually recognizes an outstanding South Carolina librarian who has contributed in promoting libraries through excellence in leadership, showing significant professional writing, providing an instrumental role in building programs and furthering the profession.

McBride was recognized by his peers from across the state for the award. He’s been Florence County’s library director since 2007.

“It’s just amazing and kind of overwhelming to receive this award,” McBride said during an interview in his office. “It’s a real privilege to be selected by your peers from libraries in South Carolina.”

McBride is immersed in the construction of three new libraries in the county in Johnsonville, Olanta and Timmonsville. Olanta and Timmonsville will be finished this year and Johnsonville is scheduled to open in March.

“These three libraries will complete the 10-year building program for the library system in Florence County and will therefore equalize all of our services across the board in the county,” he said. “We opened the (Dozier M. Munn) Pamplico library 1½ years ago.”

McBride has been the construction manager for six libraries in the state, including the main library in Greenville County when he worked for the library system there.

“New libraries mean equalizing library services, especially in Florence County,” he said. “The smaller libraries in the communities will go from four computers to 18 when the new facilities are completed, plus they will have 65-seat meeting spaces. We want the libraries to be able to give something back to the communities.”

McBride has always been a big reader, especially of non-fiction. And he also is involved in the technological side of libraries.

“It’s unusual for a library director to have a technology background with networking and computers, a security side and construction experience,” he said. “I’m kind of unique in that regard.”

McBride retired from the Army in 1994 as a battalion command sergeant major. He then received an undergraduate degree in history and a master’s degree in library science.

His first job as a librarian was in Darlington County. He then moved to Greenville County before coming to Florence two years ago.

“When this job became available, I jumped at the chance to come home,” McBride said.

The press release announcing McBride as the state’s outstanding librarian said, “Ray is capable manager who began a well-run program that empowers staff, friends, trustees and county administrators to work and communicate with each other in an effort to fulfill the mission of creating a countywide world class library system.”

McBride is the president of the S.C. Association of Public Library Administrators. He is also past chairman of S.C. Library Association ’s Public Library Section.

McBride said he’s proud Friends of Florence County Library has been able to support quality programming with guest speakers and entertainers. Among them are the Emmy Award-winning CBS Correspondent Martha Teichner as well as the renowned artist and illustrator E.B. Lewis.

The release said it’s because of McBride’s interest in promoting the Friends of Florence County Library that the Friends have received national and state awards, including the most recent Friends of Libraries USA “Best Friends.”

It also received Baker & Taylor Best Fundraiser for “Guess What Friend is Coming to Dinner.” The event supported the 2009 Children’s Summer Reading Program and was attended by more than 10,000 children and parents.