Members of the Knox County (Tenn.) Public Library System board of trustees September 23 approved a plan proposed by County Commissioner Mike Ragsdale to search for a director to replace Patricia Watson, who retired September 6. The process has been mired in controversy since the previous search committee appointed Board President Charles Davenport interim director August 26, effectively snubbing the well-respected Watson, who had offered to stay on until the end of the year if asked.
The commissioner’s plan calls for a seven-member search committee, with four members appointed by the trustees and three selected by Ragsdale himself. Ragsdale, who plans to recommend appointees with library and marketing experience, is considering three candidates recommended by the library’s staff association. All are former or current librarians with administrative experience but not employed by the county.
The board made its four choices at its September 23 meeting. In order to qualify, two of the board’s appointees were not to have voted for Davenport as interim director, the Knoxville News-Sentinel reported September 24.
King County Commissioner John Schmid told the newspaper he doubted Davenport’s qualifications as a school librarian will meet the requirements set by a new search committee. The plan calls for a decision on a new director by June.
Posted September 30, 2002.