Greg Carter is the director of the West Plains Public Library and a board member of the Community Foundation of West Plains
Dr. Greg Carter, the West Plains Public Library director, recounts his first day of kindergarten: He told the teacher he was going to college. And he did — multiple times.
“I was one of the first in my family to get a college degree,” says Carter, who grew up in Howell County and is now a board member for the Community Foundation of West Plains. “That was always important to my parents — that I was educated — and it was always important to my parents that I had a book.”
After beginning at Missouri State University-West Plains, Carter taught locally and became a librarian.
“I want to make books magic for kids,” he says, recounting difficult situations such as poverty, foster care and abuse that he’s seen kids navigate.
He earned his doctorate to become a superintendent — but in 2023, he was asked if he’d lead the community’s library. One of his goals was accessibility: Fines were eliminated, reducing a barrier that might keep patrons away.
“I think sometimes we get this negative mindset about the public, when in reality, the public is good,” he says, noting that items are still returned. “I want them to use the library, so anything that may hinder them from using it, I try to take away.”
Such decisions contributed to the selection of West Plains Public Library as Missouri’s Library of the Year in 2025.
“Everyone loves their public library because we’re so much more than just books,” he says. “I had a guy come in that said, ‘I’m desperate for a job. I don’t know how to write a résumé,’ and we sat down and helped him. It’s things like that when you really make a big impact on people.”
Who inspires you? Send your suggestions of individuals moving the needle in your community to Kaitlyn McConnell, the CFO's writer in residence, at kmcconnell@cfozarks.org.
