Library Director Ends a Distinguished Career

Library Director Dawn Bostwick retired last week after 27 years of service, 22 of those years as library director. She was instrumental in developing the county library system we have today.

In 2001, she led efforts to partner with Florida State College at Jacksonville to open the Yulee Branch Library. Then in 2003, she led the library to partner with the Bryceville Community Club to open the Bryceville Branch Library.

She also fostered  "Friends" groups, which work closely with the library system on programs and fundraising. In 2014, the Friends of the Fernandina Beach Library raised $2.5 million to expand and remodel the Fernandina Beach Branch Library.

At this time, five library branches serve the residents of Nassau County, all of which Dawn was responsible for staffing and overseeing operations.

She also is credited for implementing the Passport Program at the library, a program in which residents can renew their passports or obtain new passports. This program raises almost $100,000 in additional revenue for the library system each year.

Nassau Library Director Dawn Bostwick (center) thanks the city for its support.

She also was very successful at obtaining grants for the library. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she secured a grant for the library system to introduce library lockers. These lockers allow residents to check out and return library materials outside of normal business hours.

Assistant Library Director Julie Cannavino is serving as interim director.