On January 1, 1993, Melissa became Director of Pointe Coupee Parish Library. With passion and a lot of hard work and dedication, Melissa spent every day growing the Pointe Coupee Parish Library into one of the most successful libraries in the State of Louisiana.

Melissa constructed new library facilities in both the Innis and Livonia communities as well as expanded all five locations. She fought for funding and received over $12 million in grant funding to update the public library system. As a result, in 2016, she automated the entire library system and overhauled the computer systems.

Melissa did far more than expand facilities and revamp outdated structures. She also strived to improve the library’s services to its communities. She initiated the adult programming service, the Historical Materials Collection, and enhanced other services and performances by hiring a full-time Children’s Librarian. She even brought the library to citizens who couldn’t physically come into the facility with outreach services to nursing facilities, assisted-living facilities, childcare centers, and homebound individuals. Thanks to Melissa’s expansions, no community member is left without the library’s benefits.

Today, Melissa continues to organize the Annual Food Drive for the local Food Pantry called Food for Friends. She has been responsible for this community support service since she started it in 1993. She is also an original member of the Tri-Parish Consortium with Iberville, West Baton Rouge, and Pointe Coupee Parish Libraries for shared electronic materials collection to expand options for citizens within each area.