Library director’s resignation accepted

Boulder City Library board of trustees took the next step to finding a new director after announcing during their meeting Tuesday night that their former director, Lynn Schofield-Dahl, submitted her letter of resignation March 24 and accepted the severance package that was offered.

During their March 16 meeting, the trustees offered Schofield-Dahl a severance package that included a month of salary for each of the eight years she has worked at the library in exchange for her resignation.

A special meeting was held Tuesday night to begin the process of finding a new director as well as provide an update on operations under the interim director, Kim Diehm.

After a great deal of discussion, the trustees agreed to create a search committee that would include two community members, an expert in library sciences, a former trustee and a current trustee. They said those interested in serving on the committee should submit a letter to the board via email or drop it off at the library.

Gary Berger, chairman of the board, said they hope to select search committee members during the board’s next meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 20.

Additionally, they announced that email accounts for each trustee have been established and will be posted on the library’s website so that any concerns community members may have can be brought to their attention directly instead of going through library staff members.

Other discussion during the meeting revolved around providing additional compensation for library staff members who have been asked to assume extra duties until a new director can be found. The rate of that compensation was debated and the item tabled until they could look at the budget and pay packages offered by other organizations.

There also was some discussion about the availability of the library’s community room, especially for after-hours events. Trustee Valerie McNay said the library was designed so that the community would have access to the room and they need to find an alternative to requiring a staff member be present to lock up the facility.

The meeting started with several community residents expressing their support of Schofield-Dahl and their outrage at how she was dismissed.

One man called for Berger’s resignation in light of information that was intended to remain confidential getting out to the public. Trustees Jeff Breeden and Marita Rhinehart explained to him that closed board meeting minutes evaluating Schofield-Dahl’s performance and actions were accidentally posted on the library’s website and were available to anyone who wanted to read them.

Hali Bernstein Saylor is editor of the Boulder City Review. She can be reached at hsaylor@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9523. Follow @HalisComment on Twitter.