The books and films aren’t the only interesting things in the Campbell County Public Library. Our people are truly our best resource. With that in mind, we’d like to introduce you to Marsha Nelson.
Marsha is a mother, flautist and blacksmith who delivers library materials and mail between our branches Monday through Friday. Marsha says her love of the library began at a very young age, “when my mother worked in Newport, I would sometimes go visit when I had a day off school. I’d hop on the bus and visit her at her office. We were only a block away from the Newport Public Library. We’d go down and visit the Newport Public Library, which was the biggest treat in the world.”
Marsha started with the Library in 2007 as a page at our Newport Branch. When the Library’s courier Bob Small retired in 2010, Marsha jumped at the chance, “it just looked like fun! Bob got to come in, carrying crates, and saying ‘hi’ to everyone.” Marsha has been hauling crates and spreading sunshine ever since.
One of Marsha’s ironworking pieces. (Click to enlarge)
When she’s not working at the Library, you can find Marsha crafting traditional iron hinges, gates and latches for the Ohio-based Workshops of David T. Smith. Marsha says her passion for this uncommon trade began with a book, “I was senior in high school. I read “Trinity” by Leon Uris and that book very accurately describes the work of an Irish blacksmith and it just intrigued me. At the same time, blacksmithing was going through a renaissance in this country.”
(Click to enlarge)
Marsha trained in horseshoeing and modern welding, but all she every really wanted to do was forge. She earned an apprenticeship at the Farmer’s Museum in Cooperstown, Ohio worked there for a year. That cemented her desire to do only traditional ironwork.
Marsha and her husband, local musician Kyle Meadows, live in Campbell County. Their son, Doug, is majoring in Business at Berea College.
Marsha says her favorite thing about working in the Library is the people, “Everyone is so nice. I can’t emphasize that enough. People are helpful, people work as a team.”
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