EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been corrected to reflect the complete process by which a new library director will be selected and to update the number of candidates being interviewed.
PORT TOWNSEND — The search for a new Port Townsend Library director has been narrowed to four candidates who are scheduled to be interviewed Dec. 2.
Candidates will be individually interviewed by three panels during the day, to be followed by a public reception that evening at the Carnegie Library at 1220 Lawrence St., according to Pam Kolacy, Port Townsend city human resources director.
Two finalists will be selected by interview panels consisting of city staff, stakeholders and elected and appointed officials, with their choice being presented to City Manager David Timmons, who makes the final selection.
None of the meetings are public and the elected official panel will not contain enough City Council members to form a quorum, Kolacy said.
Three candidates are from Washington state: Keith Darrock, Port Townsend Library technical services manager; Melody Eisler, Silverdale Library branch manager; and Jennifer Fenton, training coordinator for the Washington State Library in Olympia.
One is from out of state: Maggie Snow, youth services manager for the Anoka County (Minn.) Library.
Christopher Freeman, the former head librarian for the Stockton-San Joaquin (Calif.) Library System, was originally among those being interviewed, but has since accepted a position elsewhere.
The semifinalists were narrowed down from a total of 19 applicants. 13 of whom met the job’s requirements, Kolacy said.
As city manager, Timmons has the ultimate hiring authority but will probably present his choice as a recommendation to the City Council, Kolacy said.
The library director position has been open since July 2013 when Theresa Percy took early retirement after a workplace complaint — filed by Darrock — said she had advocated passage a proposed $3 million bond issue for library renovation while on office time,
Voters defeated the bond issue.
Since Percy retired, Bev Shelton, a former Port Townsend Library director, has served as interim director.
Kolacy said that she hoped the new director would be in place sometime in January but that depended on time needed for relocation.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
