SALAMANCA — Kirsten Woodin, who has spent the last four years as manager of the Salamanca Public Library, will leave her position on Jan. 18 to begin a new job in Hudson Valley.
During its regular monthly meeting last Friday, the Salamanca Library Board accepted Woodin’s resignation. The board members also discussed plans to fill the vacated position in the coming weeks and the transition process, including developing an advertisement for the job opening.
“We’re still in the preliminary stages,” said board president Tim Baird.
“This is a very thoughtful process,” added board member Nan Miller.
In the meantime, the board is looking to hire someone to work about 15 hours a week, filling in where the coverage would be most needed.
Some board members said one person they’re considering approaching for the part-time position has experience in the library and the appropriate skills to provide extra help during this transitional period.
A new part-time hire would have to be approved by the city council, Baird said.
That item was expected to be on the Salamanca Common Council agenda Wednesday, as well as a local law to changing the requirement that the new library manager must live in the city.
The board said if someone were to live in nearby Olean, for example, that shouldn’t disqualify an applicant from the process.
“We feel that’s limiting if they have to move to Salamanca for the job,” said board member Sue Zaprowski.
Woodin was appointed library manager in October of 2014, officially taking over Nov. 1 of that year. A 2007 Salamanca High graduate with a master’s degree in library and information science, she took over the duties of longtime library director Tom Sharbaugh upon his retirement.
Woodin graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English language and literature from SUNY Geneseo in 2011. She completed her master’s degree from SUNY Albany in 2013.
Under her leadership, the library launched a few major projects to bring it into the 21st century, both aesthetically and on the shelves.
In her first year, Woodin updated the library’s collection, incorporating new programs for the public and preparing to migrate the entire catalogue over to the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, which required putting new barcodes on nearly 30,000 items in its system.
Over the past couple years, the library went through a $256,000 renovation project, including remodeled bathrooms, meeting rooms and entrance way, as well as repairs to the roof and ceiling.
“We’re very grateful for her service,” said board member Brad Sande.
“She’s done tremendous things for the library,” Miller added.
Once the hiring process begins, the board will go through the submitted resumes prior to holding interviews with potential candidates.
“This is a big asset for the community and we want it to be run well,” Zaprowski said.
The library was expected to begin advertising for the manager position this week, pending approval of the Common Council. Resumes will be accepted through Jan. 31.
(Contact managing editor Kellen Quigley at kquigleysp@gmail.com)
