One of the finalists is Kathleen Deviny, of Westfield, director of the Great Barrington Libraries.
PALMER – Two finalists will be interviewed on Saturday afternoon for the position of Palmer Public Library director, according to the president of library’s Board of Directors.
John B. DiNuovo, board president, said the finalists, Dorene Miller, of Johnstown, Penn., and Kathleen Deviny, of Westfield, are presently working as library directors. Miller is head of the Highland Community Library in Johnstown, and Deviny is director of the Great Barrington Libraries.
DiNuovo said 17 people applied for the director position, which was advertised at a salary between $58,000 and $65,000.
The 10-member search committee, composed of members of the Board of Directors and three library staffers, then interviewed six applicants, settling on Miller and Deviny as finalists.
He said they were looking for someone who had experience running a library, and that Miller and Deviny were the unanimous choices of the search committee. He said a decision may be made next week regarding which candidate will be named director.
The library has been without a director since Nancy E. Menard, of Charlton, stepped down in June. She was hired in 2009 and left for personal reasons. DiNuovo said the staff has been continuing with their regular duties and reporting to him on a regular basis.
Three temporary library employees, hired through BibioTemps, an employment service from the Massachusetts Library System, have been working at the library this past summer, filling in during vacations and helping with the staff shortage. There are 11 full-time employees.
DiNuovo said he is “anxious to have someone in place and turn the reins over to somebody.”
The interviews will begin at noon in the library’s community room, and are expected to end at 3:30 p.m.
