Visitors to the Independence Township Public Library will see two new faces.
Rhett Grant and Andrea Spano were recently appointed as department heads, and took up their new positions starting Jan. 3.
Grant, 34, took over as head of Adult Services, a position that was left open since October when Patience Beer was appointed as acting director for the library. Grant is responsible for developing all the programs for adults run through the library including reading programs and special guest speakers. Grant is also responsible for purchasing new materials for the library and training all part-time employees.
Prior to his new position in Independence Township, Grant worked for three years as an adult and teen services librarian at Highland Township Public Library, He had worked as a part-time librarian in Independence Township before. He has a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Southern Mississippi. Grant said his decision to come to Michigan was largely due to his wife, Hilary, whom he met in graduate school.
‘I knew I wasn’t going to stay in Mississippi. I was looking at moving somewhere else like New Orleans or Atlanta, but my wife was a native of Michigan when we met in graduate school. She was already teaching, so it made my decision of where to go a lot easier,? Grant said.
For Grant, working in a library seemed to come naturally from his own interests.
‘I got into the libraries basically through being a life-long library user,? Grant said, also attributing his interest in library use to collegiate studies. ‘I decided to go into libraries originally looking at going into archives, but I prefer the interaction with the public that you get at a public library.?
Grant said he had to play catch up at first in his new position, but is now looking to the future. He is working with the library is new downloadable audiobook program and is already making plans for summer reading groups.
Spano, 29, is head of Young Adult and Children Services. She obtained her master’s degree in Library Science from Wayne State University. Before coming to the area, Spano worked as head of teen services Genesee District Library for a year and a half. She decided to apply with Independence Township after seeomg a posting for a children’s librarian.
‘I wanted to become a children’s librarian? and it sounded like an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,? Spano said. ‘The position just sounded like it had a lot of potential for me to grow.?
Spano said she is very busy with her new responsibilities, which include planning new programs for children ages 0-11, purchasing books, operating reading groups and any other established programs.
Spano said she enjoys her work so far and is already looking forward to summer reading programs.

‘I love it so far. It’s definitly the change I was looking for and the people of Clarkston have been phenomenal and the staff as been great. It’s been a very positive experience, so I’m enjoying it a lot.?