Prendergast Library Executive Director Tina Scott. (Photo from Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System)
JAMESTOWN – The newly appointed executive director of the James Prendergast Library Association says she ready to help continue to make the library a community destination in the 21st century.
Prendergast Executive Director Tina Scott was officially appointed to her new post by library board during its April voting session. But while she’s only be serving in her new capacity for less than a month, she’s already has plenty of experience.
Prior to her appointment, Scott was acting director for both the Prendergast Library and the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, a position she moved into after the former embattled executive director, Linda Mielke, was removed from her position by the library system board. Prior to her role as acting director, Scott had served as assistant director for four years.
Earlier this year, both the library system and the Prendergast boards made the decision to split that executive director position, so that they will no longer be held by the same individual. Scott was appointed as executive director of the Prendergast shortly after that decision had been made.
In an interview with WRFA, Scott says that compared to last year, when the library was the center of controversy because of disappointment with some of Mielke’s decisions, 2013 is off to a much smoother start…
“I’m happy to say I think the community has relaxed a bit,” Scott says, adding, “I’m happy if [community members] are interested. I also would like to say it’s great when they are interested in a constructive way and give us feedback. That’s really what we are looking for and I think the board is looking for that… We’re hear to make a positive change and not ruffle feathers. You can’t make everybody happy all the time. But if you try to explain why you’re doing things, people will find that there is always a reason for any decision that is made.”
As far as priorities go for this year, Scott says she will be helping to work toward several new initiatives, but the top priority on her list right now is fundraising.
“Fundraising is always at the top of our list because we are down compared to past years, so we have several things coming up. I will say that right now, moving forward, I see us working on policies. We had a workshop recently that was just wonderful. Talking about policies, how they’ve changed over their years and how we need to update those to keep in line with other libraries and with the law and so on.”
To help out with Fundraising, Scott and the library board have are working on several new fundraising initiatives. Among them is the first ever Prendergast Scrabble Tournament, set to take place Saturday May 18 at the library. Other fundraising efforts include the Cummins Run for Literacy on May 11 and the annual book sale on June 7 and June 8 – which will take place this year at the Lillian Ney Renaissance Center in Jamestown.
You can hear more from Scott and her plans for the Prendergast Library during Community Matters program, set to air tonight at 6 p.m. on WRFA.
In additional to Scott, we’ll also her from a local entrepreneur who is working toward re-opening the Forest Heights golf course on the southside of Jamestown.
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