By Kate Reardon
Herald Writer
Sno-Isle Regional Library System trustees on Monday unanimously appointed Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory to the organization’s top job.
Woolf-Ivory served as deputy director and was named interim director about 2 1/2 weeks ago after the abrupt resignation of Art Weeks.
She said she was pleasantly surprised with the news and accepted the position immediately.
"It just feels so good, and (it) feels like the perfect fit for me," said Woolf-Ivory, who added she plans to spend time in coming weeks with employees at the various branches.
In a note to staff members, board president Dani Fowler said: "Jonalyn joined Sno-Isle 16 years ago and has served the last 15 years as deputy director. Over that time, she has demonstrated leadership, creativity and professionalism. The board is confident her vision and commitment to libraries and service will carry us far."
It is still unclear why Weeks chose to leave. The trustees have offered Weeks a severance package, but no agreement has been reached, said Mary Kelly, Sno-Isle spokeswoman.
Weeks, a Camano Island resident, worked for the library system for about 2 1/2 years. He was making $106,678 a year. A salary for Woof-Ivory has not yet been established, Kelly said.
In 1999, the library system spent about $50,000 on a nationwide search to replace then-library director Tom Mayer. Woolf-Ivory was a finalist for the top job at that time, Kelly said.
As director, Woolf-Ivory is responsible for a $23 million annual budget and oversees about 400 staff members who work at the system’s 20 libraries throughout Snohomish and Island counties.
She is the president of the Washington Library Council and a member of the American Library Association and the Washington Library Association.
She earned a degree in public administration from Washington State University and holds a master’s degree in library science from the University of Washington.
You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455 or send email to reardon@heraldnet.com.
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