Navigating Library Leadership Changes: A Call for Transparency

The recent resignation of Library Director Crystal Bell-Rivera has stirred discussion within the community.

• Will Escambia County use the opportunity to right the ship on how it hires directors?
• Will County Administrator Wes Moreno step aside and let the Library Board of Governance do its job?

During the latest episode of Rick’s Blog Live, I asked Dr. Blaine Wall, who chairs the West Florida Libraries Board of Governors, to unpack the pressing need for a transparent hiring process.

Let Library Board Govern

Moreno canceled the board’s meetings scheduled for June, July and August. County Attorney Alison Rogers refused to explain whether the county administrator had the power to do it. Moreno and Rogers ignored Wall’s call for a special meeting in late June.

Wall wants Moreno to reconvene the board on Aug. 24. His priorotoes are:

• Agreed-upon requirements for the position, mirrored after state grant requirements rather than custom-written criteria
• An open application period anyone can enter
• A multi-step review, similar to the previous search’s Zoom interviews followed by in-person interviews
• Interviews held at the library in an open room, rather than at county offices, which required navigating security and limited parking
• Input from library staff, including questions they’d want asked of candidates about leadership style and support
• More community involvement throughout the process

The Process Before Moreno

I have previously reported how the hiring process worked in 2015 under County Administrator Jack Brown. The board voted on the job requirements, helped write interview questions, reviewed applications, and decided which candidates advanced. Read more.

• The process that led to Moreno hiring Bell-Rivera was handled largely in-house, with little board input on who moved forward.

Message to the community: Contact your commissioners and request a special August workshop where Moreno can explain the director search process that will use this time and the public can voice their opinions.

• Steve Stroberger: district1@myescambia.com
• Mike Kohler: district2@myescambia.com
• Lumon May: district3@myescambia.com
• Ashlee Hofberger: district4@myescambia.com
• Steven Barry: district5@myescambia.com