Hiring Freeze Holds at Douglas County Libraries

Parker Library Manager Patt Paul retired in May but will not be replaced. Associate Director of Community Services David Farnan says, “We have decided to redistribute the duties and responsibilities of the current branch manager team to cover all of our locations.”

Starting this in June 09, the new branch manager alignment is:

• Highlands Ranch Manager Dorothy Hargrove will now oversee the Neighborhood Library at Roxborough in addition to her current duties.
• Former head of reference at Philip S. Miller library, Sharon Lauchner will supervise the Neighborhood Library at Lone Tree, and the new location in Castle Pines.
• Former Lone Tree Manager Sharon Nemechek will now manage Parker Library.
• Philip S. Miller Library Manager Sheila Kerber will now oversee the Louviers Library in addition to her current duties.

Through this hiring freeze and other measures, the library hopes to save $1.5 million by the end of the year, an 8% reduction in the budget. Meanwhile, library use – the number of items checked out at all locations – has increased by 9.6% over last year.