After nearly a year without a permanent county librarian and a
failed attempt to recruit one earlier this year, the county is
trying a new approach to finding the person who will lead the San
Benito County Free Library into the future.
After nearly a year without a permanent county librarian and a failed attempt to recruit one earlier this year, the county is trying a new approach to finding the person who will lead the San Benito County Free Library into the future.
This week, the Board of Supervisors gave County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson the go ahead to organize a public workshop aimed at getting the community together to hammer out a vision for the library’s future that will address expansion of the library and services, forming partnerships with other agencies and organizations and hiring a new permanent county Librarian.
Most agree that the aging county library located on Fourth Street is in need of improvements – or even replacement. A $600 million library construction and renovation bond that will be on the ballot for the state’s June election may help, Supervisor Pat Loe said.
“I would love to see some kind of multi-complex, close to the heart of downtown,” she said.
But even with agreement about the need for improvements to the county library – which, suffering from years of budget cuts, has been forced to cut services and rely on volunteers – people aren’t all on the same page when it comes to hiring a librarian and planning the library’s future.
Some hope creating a vision for the library’s future will aid in attempts to fill the county librarian position, which has been vacant since long-time librarian Jo Wahdan retired in January. Interim Librarian Karen Schaffer has been holding the post since March.
“Our chances of getting someone that is interested in the community are greatly enhanced by having a firm vision of what we want out library to look like in the next two, five or 10 years,” Thompson said.
Others, however, believe that the county is putting the cart before the horse and that, before developing a plan for the future, it should hire a permanent librarian so that person can be in on the discussion.
“We should have a permanent librarian, then go into the visionary process,” Supervisor Anthony Botelho said. “This way that person can develop a relationship with the Friends of the Library and others who have a vested interest, rather than say ‘here it is, go work with it.'”
An attempt to hire a new county librarian that failed earlier this year when a screening panel did not find any candidates with suitable experience for the job, has Loe agreeing with Thompson that the county needs to have a plan to pitch to a prospective librarian.
“We’ve had one failed recruitment already,” Loe said. “We felt that if we could come up with a vision, that might entice someone.”
Members of the Friends of the Library, a group that raises funds for the library, see things Botelho’s way. During a Board of Supervisors earlier this month, several members of that organization asked the board to recruit and hire a librarian sooner than later.
“I don’t see why they’re (the county) just dragging their feet,” Ruth Erickson, long-time Friends of the Library board member, said Thursday. “They want to do it backwards. I’m disgusted. I’m very upset by this whole thing.”
Erickson echoed concerns voiced previously by other members of the Friends of the Library, saying that an interim librarian is less likely to pursue long-term goals.
“She basically keeps things at status quo until someone takes the job,” she said.
Despite disagreement about the order of things, many agree that potential partnerships between the county and other agencies and organizations. Thompson said she has spoken with Steve Kinsella, president of Gavilan College, and County Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley about working together for a better county library.
Though they said discussion was very preliminary, both Kinsella and Foley said they are interested in delving further into the idea of partnerships with the county.
The Gavilan Joint Community College District is currently looking at sites in San Benito county for a new satellite campus.
Both Loe and Botelho were enthusiastic about partnering with other organizations.
Thompson said the library workshop will likely be held in late January.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected].
