LAPLACE — Andrea Tullos said it felt like serendipity or even a case of divine intervention when she found out St. John the Baptist Parish was in search of a new library director.

Tullos, a St. Charles Parish native and St. Charles Catholic alumna, currently lives in North Carolina, where she’s served as assistant director for the Orange County Library System since 2002.

Recently, Tullos began making preparations to move home. She soon learned there was a position open that would allow her to continue servicing the community in the realm she is most passionate about: library services.

Tullos officially accepted the St. John the Baptist Parish Library Director position last week. Her first day of work will be Monday, Nov. 25.

“It’s really exciting because this is where I am from,” Tullos said. “I originally grew up in Destrehan and went to high school in LaPlace. It’s a grand opportunity to come home and provide the leadership and skills I have acquired over the past 20 years.”

Randy De Soto, who served as the St. John Library Director from 1986 to 2014, has been at the helm of the ship in an interim director role since May. He said Tullos’ years of experience in budgeting and planning will be helpful in the library director role.

“I think she’s going to bring very useful experience that will do her well in helping the library here move forward,” Do Soto said.

“The board is looking forward to working with her in the future. As a native of the area, I think she brings that knowledge of the culture and the people of the River Parishes that will do her well in establishing her in this position as well.”

Tullos has a Bachelor of Science in finance from Louisiana State University and a Master of Library Science from North Carolina Central University.

Her passion for library service grew out of her love for nonprofit development work and management. While living in Destrehan, Tullos was the development director for St. Charles Borromeo School.

She continued volunteering on many boards after moving to North Carolina. In addition to serving as president on a historic site board, Tullos has held officer positions in the North Carolina Library Association. She’s also been involved at the PTA level and inside her church.

“The reason I was really drawn to the library director position is because I have a strong communication background including leadership skills in staff development,” Tullos said. “I’m really looking forward to working internally to make us a strong staff as a whole.”

Staff development will allow St. John Parish libraries to find new and innovative ways to engage the community, according to Tullos. She said the beauty of public libraries lies in the fact that they provide services to someone who might not otherwise be able to access or afford them.

“It is wonderful to provide something to the community that lifts them up, that allows them to grow both educationally and creatively,” Tullos said. “It is wonderful to be able to do this every day with a whole new group of people that come through our door.”

In North Carolina, Tullos helped lead a library system with a community-led philosophy. She said that atmosphere stems from allowed every staff member to hear what the community is asking for and bring those suggestions to the table when it’s time to brainstorm new support and programming.

“There are so many things we have been able to do, but it wasn’t until we stopped and listened and communicated with individuals in the community that we became far more effective,” Tullos said.

As Tullos assumes the role of library director, De Soto will return to his home in Shreveport.

“I was happy that I could assist the library,” De Soto said. “It’s been a very good experience, but I’m looking forward to returning to retired life.”