Meet the new library director

An open house next week will allow residents to meet Carson City's new library director and talk about what the library provides the community.

The open house will be 10 a.m.-noon and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday.

Refreshments will be served.

"The casual nature of the event, hopefully, will be a real positive thing," said Sara Jones, who took over Jan. 22 as head of the Carson City Library.

For people a little too shy to voice their opinions, there will be a form available for people to write down their suggestions and comments, Jones said.

Monday was chosen because traffic in and out of the library is usually heavy, so many residents will get the chance to meet Jones and describe their needs, said Phyllis Patton, chairwoman of the library board.

An average of 800 people use library services that day of the week, according to library personnel.

Jones also said this will be just the first of many events where she plans to talk about the library and what it offers.

Jones said one of her priorities as library director will be showing the public "how critical a service it is."

She was the administrator of the Nevada State Library and Archives. She was also the library director for the Elko-Lander-Eureka County Library system before going to work for the state in 2001.

Jones is also working on her doctorate in library and information science.

Her research focuses on the value of libraries and getting decision makers more interested in how the service is provided.

Guy Rocha, state archivist, was named interim administrator of the Nevada State Library and Archives in January.

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