Lola DeWitt, executive director of Live Oak Public Libraries, told the Chatham County Board of Commissioners that the system concluded a yearlong strategic-planning process in October 2024 and is focusing its work on literacy, community engagement and better use of library spaces.

"For those of you who may not know, Live Oak Public Libraries serves Effingham, Chatham, and Liberty Counties, and we are one of the largest library systems in the state of Georgia," DeWitt said during the Sept. 2025 meeting. She said the plan resulted from more than 1,300 community responses and was developed with consultant Baton Global.

DeWitt highlighted several service metrics and initiatives: more than 8,000 sign-ups for the summer reading program, 2,117 people attending summer kickoff events, and about 24,000 program attendees systemwide. The library has launched "Ready to Read" centers, funded in part by Saint Thomas Thrift and the Green family, with three locations in Chatham County. Nine Live Oak employees completed LETRS literacy training and are using that instruction to design programming tied to early reading standards.

The presentation also emphasized expanded nonbook services. DeWitt said the system circulates hotspots and Chromebooks, loans ukuleles and NASA kits, partners with the American Red Cross to circulate blood-pressure monitors and offers museum passes that cover families of four with area institutions including the Telfair Museum and the Railroad Museum. She named Mia Mance, executive director of the Savannah Downtown Association, as the Chatham County library card ambassador.

DeWitt thanked Chatham County for capital funding through the county's CIP process that allowed repairs to the Southwest Chatham Library roof and exterior walls. She reported that Carnegie Library renovations—addressing long-standing flooding and ADA compliance—have begun with state and SPLS funding, the Oglethorpe Mall replacement project is in architect-proposal solicitation, and Pooler Library is at the design-concept stage.

DeWitt closed by encouraging residents to sign up for library cards, noting roughly one in three county residents holds a library card across the system. "If you do not have a library card, please get one. If your library card has been expired, please get it renewed," she said.

The presentation prompted brief commissioner questions about event schedules and technology resources; DeWitt provided specific dates and a list of available items on the library website. The county did not vote on any library-specific policy at the meeting; the presentation was informational and followed by routine acceptance of the meeting agenda.