RINGGOLD, Ga. — Former deputy state librarian Diana Pope will become interim Catoosa County librarian starting July 1 and stay until a permanent librarian is chosen.

Catoosa Library Board Chairwoman Mona Allday said having Ms. Pope on board for the changeover from regional to independent library was “wonderful.”

She said Ms. Pope was deputy state librarian from 1983 until 1997 and was director of the Cherokee Regional Library System in LaFayette until 2007.

The Catoosa Library Board told the state regional system in November that the county was considering switching from a regional to a stand-alone library system on July 1.

The library will be part of the new Public Information Network for Electronic Services. Mrs. Allday said new software has been installed and all current records have been loaded into the system.

Mrs. Allday said the library at Benton Place was closed Monday so employees could receive training in circulation and cataloging new books into the system. She said two employees were in Gainesville, Ga., for three days of training.

Dade County residents Judy Smith and her daughter, Gracie, came to the library Monday and were disappointed to learn it was closed.

“I wish I had known, because that’s a long distance to drive,” Mrs. Smith said.

Tunnel Hill resident Cathy Khottavong and her son, Ryan, also tried to open the library door before seeing the “Closed” sign.

“I had a pretty good drive up from Tunnel Hill,” Mrs. Khottavong said.

Mrs. Allday said a search committee to find a permanent library director is reviewing resumes from a dozen applicants.

“We are pleased with the number and quality of applicants,” she said.

Ms. Allday said she is surprised to hear talk from some quarters that the library and the PINES system would experience difficulties.

“There are 275 libraries in Georgia on the PINES system,” she said. “There wouldn’t be that many libraries on PINES unless it worked.”

Members of the five-member Catoosa Library Board, recently reduced from seven members, are B.J. Darnell, Brad Scott, Sarah Hutelin, Darlene Cutler and Mrs. Allday.

Comments