Applicants for library director to take questions

Residents will be able to meet the two top applicants for the Carson City Library director position next week.

Both will take questions from a panel of residents starting at 1 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Nevada Room of the Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Dr. After taking a break, the Library Board of Trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the same location and pose their own questions to the applicants.

"Hopefully we will have a new director in place by the beginning of the year," said Phyllis Patton, chair woman of the board.

Among the people who will be on the panel are designates of the Library Foundation and Friends of the Library.

Originally, board members didn't plan to include residents in the screening process for a new director, but changed their minds after deciding that involving more people in choosing the new director would help promote awareness about the library.

Some members worried about prolonging the interview process and causing hardship to the people being interviewed by asking them to make more than one appearance - especially difficult for any applicants coming from out of town.

Maxine Nietz, board member, made the suggestion to include more people. It could be a way for the library board to draw attention to its persistent funding problems as members consider a ballot initiative in 2008 asking voters to approve a bond to build a larger library building, she said.

Nevada law spells out the board members' responsibilities in the hiring process: They have the ultimate choice of a new library director.

The two applicants for director scheduled to be interviewed next week are Sara Jones and Laura Golod. Jones is division administrator of the Nevada State Library and Archives and Golod is the branch manager of the Flamingo Road branch of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.

The annual salary previously advertised for a new library director was $70,000 to $80,000, depending on qualifications. If an applicant is highly qualified, the pay could go higher, said Ann Silver, Carson City's director of Human Resources.

Qualifications stated in recruitment advertisements included having a master's degree in library science and six years of experience as a library director or reference or children's librarian. Candidates with English and Spanish language abilities, advanced computer skills and public relations experience "will be given preference."

Sally Edwards, the previous director, retired in September after nearly 20 years in the position.

If you go

What: Interviews for new library director

When: Starting at 1 p.m. Nov. 16. Trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. and ask their own questions.

Where: Nevada Room, Carson City Senior Citizens Center, 911 Beverly Drive

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.