Timberland updates: Library hours changing, 26 apply to be interim director
Twenty-six people applied to be the interim director at Timberland Regional Library, according to a trustee who updated The Olympian about the search for a new director to lead the five-county district.
Twenty-one of those applicants met an April 10 application deadline, followed by five more applicants after it, said Thurston County Trustee Mary Beth Harrington.
They received applications from local, national and even one international candidate, she said. The search process was developed by Harrington with approval from the board. She has conducted leadership transitions and searches over the past 20 years.
“Currently, the Interim Executive Director’s contract will be for 6-12 months to allow time for an extensive search for the permanent or regular Executive Director,” she wrote in an email to The Olympian. “The Interim Executive Director will not be considered for the regular Executive Director position, but that decision could change.”
The library district needs an interim director after former longtime Executive Director Cheryl Heywood resigned in late March. The district is working its way through a difficult budget process that has included voluntary and involuntary layoffs, although those involuntary cuts were recently reduced.
Top candidates for the interim role were interviewed on April 18 and their responses were scored on a 5-point scale. Remaining initial interviews will be completed this week, she said.
The interview questions were developed by Pacific County Trustee Toni Gwin who has experience in that area, according to Harrington. The questions were based on the qualifications and characteristics the board identified as most desirable for the interim director.
“Qualifications for a successful Interim Executive Director include experience leading a multi-jurisdictional organization made up of both rural and urban locations, as well as experience with sound financial management,” Harrington said in an email.
Once the initial interviews are complete, second interviews will be scheduled for one to three finalists. A date has not been set, she said.
“At the second interview, the Trustees will once again individually rate the candidates’ responses, and those scores will again be calculated to reveal the 1 or 2 best candidates,” Harrington wrote. “At this point, TRL Human Resources will conduct the perfunctory references and background checks, after which the Board will be able to offer the position to one candidate in the hope that they can start by May 15.”
Library hours to be reduced
Meanwhile, the district announced Monday that 17 library branches will soon operate on revised hours. Those changes take effect the second week of May and all operating hour changes will be in place by May 19.
“Following the recent agreement with the union to limit the scope of proposed layoffs, regional managers were asked to review local staffing levels and usage patterns and to recommend changes to open staffed hours,” the news release reads. “The new hours ensure sustainable staffing and operations while the district continues to develop a plan to increase its revenue.”
Of Timberland’s 29 libraries, 12 will continue to maintain their current staffed open hours while 13 will reduce open staffed hours by one to eight hours per week. The remaining four libraries – Hawks Prairie, Hoodsport, North Mason (Belfair) and Shelton – will implement reductions of between 10 and 16 hours per week, according to the district.
Timberland spokeswoman Anna Rasmussen said hours at branches in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater remain unchanged. Elsewhere in Thurston County it looks like this:
- Tenino, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, effective May 18. Branch will have expanded access hours.
- West Olympia, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Mondays through Saturdays, effective May 17.
- Yelm, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, effective May 18.
- Hawks Prairie: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, effective May 11.
