By Carolyn Reid
After a months-long search that presented four strong candidates, the PC Library Board of Trustees appointed Assistant/Interim Director Kelly Zumwalt as the new director of the library.
Zumwalt has been at the library for nearly 10 years, and has played the role of assistant since the former director was hired. In the meantime, she has stepped up to perform many of the tasks of the director, and she has made herself welcome at community organizations such as Rotary.
The first duty Zumwalt will face is seeing the completion of the renovation that will include a makerspace, study rooms, and a teen area along with an addition of stacks. As the library moves forward, other goals have been suggested to Zumwalt that we hope will further increase community service and staff development.
Zumwalt is currently working on her library science certification through Gateway, and she will continue until she receives her degree. She is well-connected with the Kentucky Department of Libraries, and she will continue to bring their expertise into the area as well as collaborating with others in the field.
The American Library Association describes the role of a library director as one who “prepares and oversees the budget, develops employment and service policies, strategic planning, public and governmental relations, reporting to the governing board or official, ensuring compliance with laws, fundraising, hiring, motivating and terminating staff, and more.” While she may not be the one you see running the programming, she will be the one who sees the budget provides for that programming. She will also be visible in the community promoting the library in various ways and with various organizations.
Zumwalt took time to share an introduction that includes her goals and hopes for the library. Please welcome her to her new role.
Hello, my name is Kelly Zumwalt and I have recently accepted the role of director at the Pendleton County Public Library. My family and I first joined the Pendleton County community over fifteen years ago. During the last eight years, I have served in a variety of positions within the library and have had the unique opportunity of growing with our organization and community. I have also been fortunate enough to work with many of you in this process.
Our library mission statement is "The Pendleton County Public Library exists to CONNECT our community, EXPLORE the world, IMAGINE what can be, and CREATE." This is a mission we have worked to put into action for many years and are continuing to develop today. Our library is a reflection of our community and my goal is to fill the library with the spirit of welcoming that is so plentiful in Pendleton County.
My hope is to continue to develop the library as a hub of our community. To that end, we have expanded our items to include non-traditional offerings like musical instruments, board games, yard games, and more. Currently, we are undergoing a renovation which will allow us to offer a large MakerSpace with various equipment for community use. This includes a 3D printer, large poster printer, laminator, engraving machine, and more. We will also have an area especially for teens in the community for hanging out and relaxing, as well as study rooms for those who need some space to work and an additional meeting room. Our primary goal in this is to provide the Pendleton County community with a space which supports its ever-changing needs and interests.
I would like to thank the Pendleton County Public Library Board of Trustees for this opportunity. As I settle into my new role, I encourage the community members to reach out with program ideas and suggestions. I see this transition as an opportunity to grow our library's impact together. I look forward to continuing to work with the businesses and organizations in our community to CONNECT, EXPLORE, IMAGINE, and CREATE.