In FOCUS - Connie Doughty

Connie Doughty is in the spotlight for our October issue of In FOCUS. (Coincidentally, October is her favorite month of the year.) Connie has resided in Hancock County all of her life. She’s a 1984 Graduate of Oak Glen High School and a 1985 Graduate of Wheeling Barber College. She can still work her magic with scissors, but where she truly shines is in her role as the Library Director for Lynn Murray Memorial Library. She began with that position in 2021 and she’s been blazing a trail ever since. Her vision and dedication for the library were the main reasons community members nominated her for the In FOCUS blog.

In her formative years – she was a force to be reckoned with. Truth be told, she still is. Her Mom and Dad and Pap and Grandma instilled in her those core values: to be genuine, loyal, honest, and to love with your whole heart. Life lessons and Bible lessons intertwined. The kind of lessons you learn on the front porch shucking corn and snappin’ beans, or in the barn taking care of the horses. Or while washing clothes in the wringer washer. Or in the stillness of the fields, watching and waiting for the crosshairs to find their mark.  Ever mindful and ever grateful for a God that provides. She’s country born and land-raised – tough as bear – gentle as a sunrise.  She can hunt, prepare, cook and can. Show her how to do something once – and she won’t forget. Self taught sometimes – and self reliant always.

Her and husband, Steve, raised their two boys Joe and Jake with all the values, principles and love that they themselves learned.  Connie will tell you that her and Steve’s greatest accomplishment is their boys. Raising two country boys to be men of strong values, and honest hearts. Raising sons to be good husbands. Teaching them that real strength comes from kindness, hard work and doing what’s  right – even when no one’s watching. Rooted in country soil, growing up with respect, hard work , and faith guiding their steps.  And maybe just a little bit of mischievous fun sprinkled here and there to keep things interesting.  

“Miss Connie, Miss Connie, Miss Connie”…. Whether you’re visiting the library, or walking at the park, pushing a cart through Sparkle, or watching a community parade, if Connie is there, you’re probably going to hear someone say, “Miss Connie.” The person saying her name could be eighty, or they could be eight. They all know her. They all love her. She loves them right back.



Connie never dreads a Monday. Because she loves her job. She’s the kind of library director whose eyes light up the moment someone walks through the door. She knows every shelf like an old friend and takes pride in turning quiet spaces into places of discovery. Her love for books runs deep, but it’s her love for people, the students, families and curious minds – that truly defines her work. She leads with heart, vision and the belief that libraries are the soul of a community. She pours her heart into every story, every program, and every visitor who walks through her doors.

The Lynn Murrary Memorial Library began simply in a storefront on Main Street in Chester in 1970. It was founded to foster early literacy and a love for reading, and to offer a safe community space. Lynn Murray started the library with love in her heart for the children. Connie continues with the same vision and dedication. With the backing of a strong board of community members, the library has become so much more than a building filled with books. It is a place where a child discovers the magic of their very first story hour, where a student finds encouragement and quiet space to learn, and where neighbors of all ages gather to connect, create and feel at home. Like Connie says, “A positive and safe place for the kiddos.”

Every program, every display, every thoughtful detail carries the touch of someone who cares deeply about this community. When Connie hears of a need in the community, or that her patrons are interested in learning something new, she starts thinking of a way to make it happen. She’s doubled, sometimes tripled the numbers of event attendees. That’s not an easy feat, when you consider all the other opportunities and avenues that people have available, to learn something new, or participate in. The warmth of a welcome at the door, the effort to make sure everyone feels included – these are not small things. They are the very threads that weave this little library into the fabric of who we are as a community.

Connie will tell you. She doesn’t make magic happen all on her own. There are volunteers, community members, parents, and organizations that lend their resources and helping hands. When duty calls, she also ‘volunteers’ her family members. LOL. It takes a special kind of leader, like Conne, to bring all those resources together.  Miss Connie, thank you for giving so much of yourself to our community. Your vision and hard work touch more lives than you may ever know, and we are so fortunate to have you guiding this space that has become the heart of our town. Because of your dedication, the library has become so much more than a place to borrow books – it’s become a true community center. Week after week, there are new programs, thoughtful displays, and creative opportunities for people of all ages. We are so grateful for your leadership, your kindness, and the countless ways – seen and unseen that you enrich the lives of others.  Thank you for your kindness, your creativity, and your tireless work. Thank you for giving us not only a library, but a true gathering place, a place of belonging and a place where the possibilities are endless.