Letters to the editor Dec. 11

Imagine If

I am concerned about the future of our ImagineIf Library. Several members of the library board have created a toxic atmosphere leading to the resignation of Martha Furman, the interim library director. Her loss leaves our library without a director, as well as an assistant director and several other staff vacancies.

It appears the county commissioners have appointed individuals to the board whose goal is to destroy rather than support our library. In the board’s advertisement for a new library director, they are not requiring candidates with librarian credentials even though the last two directors had master’s in library science and over 30 years of experience.

The situation is now so toxic that no one on the current staff is willing to step into an interim director’s position. As a community, we deserve to continue having outstanding individuals overseeing our library. Not requiring a professional degree in library science and reducing the director’s salary guarantees the application of unqualified and mediocre candidates.

The current board has several vocal members who don’t understand the proper role of a volunteer oversight board. Their job is not to micromanage by taking over operating decisions, but rather to hire and support a competent professionally trained director. Undermining the director and staff destroys morale, leads to resignations, and makes it impossible to have an exemplary library.

The problem lies with the county commissioners who selected new members of the board whose anti-library agenda affects everyone in Flathead County. We need county commissioners and a library board that actually support the library’s on-going development, planning and funding.

Currently, we are far behind most cities of similar size such as Missoula and Bozeman that have invested heavily to create magnificent new library facilities to support the education and information needs of their communities.

— Carol Santa, Kalispell