TOCCOA, Ga. — After decades of dedicated service promoting literacy in Northeast Georgia, Shantelle Grant finally got her day. Literally.
Thursday, March 19, was declared Shantelle Grant Day in Toccoa as the city and state honored Grant as Georgia’s 2025 Public Library Employee of the Year.
The Friends of the Toccoa-Stephens County Library hosted a reception at Reflections on Lake Toccoa in her honor. Julie Walker, State Librarian of the Georgia Public Library Service, presented the award during the ceremony. Grant was selected from employees across the state’s 410 public libraries.
Toccoa Mayor Evan Hellenga read a proclamation recognizing Grant’s service and officially declared March 19, 2026, as “Shantelle Grant Day” in the city of Toccoa.
Delana Knight, director of the Northeast Georgia Regional Library System, said Grant exemplifies the mission of modern libraries.
“Those of us that work in libraries, we talk a lot about making our libraries into a true community hub,” Knight said. “And to Shantelle, it’s more than just a statement. This is how she lives. She has such a warm and friendly personality that she makes the library a welcoming place to everybody who walks through the doors.”
Knight added that Grant has a unique ability to connect with children and families through programming.
“She has a special gift at connecting with children and young families, and through story time and youth programming, she’s creating experiences that people want to come back for more,” she said.
Decades of dedication
Grant serves as children’s coordinator at the Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library and regional children’s and youth services director for the Northeast Georgia Regional Library System. Her work focuses on early literacy, youth programming, and building strong community partnerships.
In presenting the award, Walker recognized Grant “for her efforts in creating a welcoming atmosphere for adults and children of all ages, advocating on behalf of the library, and promoting literacy and lifelong learning throughout the community.”
Grant began her career in education, spending more than a decade teaching at Stephens County Head Start before joining the library in 2007. She now leads programs including story time, summer reading, and early literacy initiatives that serve families across the region.
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