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Library officials go forward with plan, despite public outcry

Mary Thompson

Ignoring public sentiment, Douglas County Library officials have moved forward with staff reorganization at the Lake Tahoe branch in Zephyr Cove.

Library employee Jennifer Evans has been selected to replace Librarian Patty Timmens, who has worked at the branch for 19 years, in seeing to the daily operations of the Lake Tahoe branch. Assisting Evans will be Senior Library Technician Dan Doyle.

Timmens was transferred in November to the Douglas County Library main branch in Minden. Library Director Linda Deacy said the move will allow Timmens the opportunity to perform duties within her rank as a Librarian II.



More than 65 Lake Tahoe residents protested the change by writing complaints to Douglas County commissioners.

The final decision to put Evans in charge of the branch came just days before a public forum, called by Lake Tahoe residents and the nonprofit Tahoe-Douglas Library League.



Jan Christensen, vice president of the Library League, said the decision should have been postponed until after the public had a chance to voice an opinion on the matter.

“I am very disappointed on how this was handled,” she said. “It’s sad that they do this before the public forum – I say let the people speak.”

Christensen said Timmens’ involvement in the community played a vital part in the fund-raising efforts of the library branch. She also said her customer service skills were outstanding.

Douglas County Manager Dan Holler made it clear at a December meeting with the Library League that personnel decisions would not be made on the basis of public outcry.

The forum, held Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Lake Tahoe branch library, will also give the public a chance to discuss the five-year Douglas County Public Library Strategic Plan.

The Strategic Plan, which was approved by the Library Board in October, calls for a feasibility study to “explore the possible relocation of the Lake Tahoe branch facility to Kahle Park” and the feasibility of the sale of the present building.

Other recent action taken by library officials included expanding the hours of community program coordinator Carol Rapacz to Thursdays, every other Friday and some Saturdays. Officials are also conducting a survey on extending the hours of the branch by one hour a day. Survey forms are available until Feb. 12 at the Lake Tahoe branch.


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