by Jessica Hughes Ford
At the Johnson County Library in Clarksville, books are just the beginning. Today, the library has become a lifeline for residents seeking the skills and confidence to enter or reenter the workforce.
For library manager Jimmy Ritchie, the mission is rooted in home. He grew up visiting this library with his mother, discovering the world through books and finding a sense of belonging. Now he is paying that forward. He is committed to making the library a bridge to opportunity for neighbors who need a hand, a skill or simply a place to start.
The library started Technology Tuesdays, a kind of tech support to help senior citizens, but demand quickly spread. “It’s turned into every day of the week,” Ritchie said. “People just show up, and we might see five to 10 in a week, sometimes more, to get help with their cell phones or laptops.”
When clothing manufacturer Hanes closed its Clarksville plant in 2023, more than 230 workers lost their jobs. The ripple effects hit families across Johnson County. The library responded with Workforce Wednesday, a program connecting jobseekers with local employers, résumé help and interview coaching.
“One woman who lost her job at Hanes came here, and we helped her build a résumé and apply for jobs online. She’d never done that before,” Ritchie said. “She got hired at Walmart, and told us she was so grateful because it meant she didn’t lose her home. That’s the kind of difference we want to make.”
Ritchie sees libraries as more than a quiet place to find books. “I’ve always viewed libraries as a community hub where people come together,” he said. “With the cost of living so high, many can’t afford computers, books or even internet access. We provide both, and a safe environment where they can find support. When it comes to workforce and career readiness, we can step in and be part of the solution.”
Collaboration has been key. The library partners with:
• Staffmark, a staffing agency that hosts monthly on-site job fairs and interviews.
• The River Valley Adult Learning Alliance, where Ritchie serves on the board, connecting adults with tutoring, laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots.
• The Johnson County Chamber of Commerce, which teams up on workshops and community programs.
Another valuable resource has been DigitalLearn.org, an online platform created by the Public Library Association. Their free courses cover everything from basic searches and email to Microsoft Word and cloud storage. Participants who finish receive a certificate to document their skills.
Ritchie hopes the short-term impact is simple: helping residents find jobs and gain confidence. But his long-term vision is broader. “I want to connect people to success and to living a life of worthiness and purpose,” he said. “If people can thrive here, they won’t feel like they have to leave Johnson County to find other opportunities.”
With new businesses moving in, along with downtown revitalization and the Chamber of Commerce promoting local tourism, momentum is building. The library is doing its part by showing how workforce development can strengthen not just individuals, but entire communities.
For Ritchie, working at the same library his mother once brought him to as a child is especially meaningful. “Reading and literacy are transformational,” he said.
“Those skills can take you anywhere. Now I get to give back to the community I grew up in and help others unlock their potential. Because you never know what someone is capable of accomplishing.”
In Johnson County, opportunities are not only found in classrooms or job sites. Increasingly, they start at the library, a community hub where people gain the tools, the confidence and the hope to build a brighter future.
