Library Board Evaluates Staff Structure After Two Employees Resign in August

DAYTON—The Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees met last week to evaluate and discuss the structure of the staff positions and job descriptions, after the library lost two key staff members this month.

Adult Services Specialist Howard Beuhler’s last day on the job was Aug. 4, and the last day for the Children/Young Adult Services Specialist Carolyn Laib was Aug. 11.

“The board needed to add staff, sooner, rather than later,” according to Tanya Patton who serves as chairperson for the CCLD Board.

“Losing two staff at the same time is certainly challenging, but it presents an opportunity to push a reset button with regard to staff structure, expectations, management and accountability, going forward,” Patton said.

At the meeting Head Librarian Dusty Waltner presented the trustees with a plan that calls for moving away from job descriptions that are heavy on specializing and that have rigid definitions of duties, to job descriptions that allow for cross-training, better communication, teamwork, and a feeling of ownership in the library, as a whole.

“It’s the story of small libraries. You have to do it all,” said Patton.

The new plan will require more delegation of duties by Waltner, and the trustees will provide her with clear expectations.

The focus will be on library basics during the next few months, as hiring and training new employees begins, and as the new plan takes effect.

Patton said part of that focus will be in making sure library patrons have a positive experience when they come through the front door of the library.