The Charleston Carnegie Public Library celebrated National Library Week by welcoming its new director Sunday.

Jeanne Hamilton, the new director of the Charleston library, said she wanted to be a librarian because she loves the aspect of being able to serve the community such as helping individuals with continuing education classes to helping new readers.

“I love serving the whole community,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton worked at a library in Effingham for four years before accepting the position in Charleston and has a master’s degree in library sciences from the University of Illinis at Champaign-Urbana.

As director, Hamilton said she plans to survey what types of services people use most in the library.

Also, Hamilton said she is currently planning for the summer reading program, which will also include adults this year.

The library can offer Eastern students several study rooms and downloading, Hamilton said.

Hamilton has seen many Eastern students in the library either studying or tutoring local high school students.

“We’d love to see more Eastern students though,” Hamilton said.

If a student wanted to have a Charleston library card they have to bring a form of identification and show proof of residency and they will receive a library card, Hamilton said.

The library is also planning other events to celebrate National Library Week.

Mary Droste, the vice president of the board of trustee for the library, said the library would celebrate library week by having a book sale and a story time for families.

“The proceeds from the book sale will go to the summer reading program,” Droste said. The book sale will have books, videos, audios, games, and puzzles.

The items could be gift quality items, new releases or out of print items.

The family story hour is a drop-in event for families with children ages 2-7, which will include stories, finger-plays and activities.

The family story hour will have two story time sessions on April 12 from 10-10:30 a.m. and another story time at 2-2:30 p.m.

The book sale will be April 15 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 17 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Charleston library at 712 Sixth St.

Elizabeth Edwards can be reached at 581-7943 or eaedwards@eiu.edu.