Sumner County trustees name operations manager Kristen Lima interim director after outside candidate interview

The Sumner County Library Trustees on April 23 named Hendersonville operations manager Kristen Lima interim director, after discussion about whether to appoint an outside candidate for the temporary post.

The trustees met at the Hendersonville Public Library. Chair Joanna Daniels said the board’s succession plan named Kristen Lima as a successor but the board also heard a nomination for Anne Herrod as an outside interim director. "I believe that Kristen is great," Daniels said before the vote. "I do believe that Anne Herrod's skills, leadership, her experience, would be extremely helpful."

The debate centered on whether the interim role required direct library experience. Several trustees argued an interim should come from current library staff so the person could immediately manage operations and relieve existing staff. Trustee Paul McCoy said appointing an internal interim would be "much easier, much simpler, and much more logical." Trustee Mike Ryan and others pressed that leadership, budget and personnel management could in some circumstances substitute for specific library experience.

Operations manager Kristen Lima addressed the board in person and by phone, saying she had recent community engagement and management experience and that staff support had strengthened since the vacancy. "I do feel very confident that I could do this job if you guys decide," Lima said. She also told trustees she will complete a bachelor's degree in two weeks and plans to pursue a Master of Library and Information Science.

Anne Herrod, who attended and described a background in corporate leadership and government service, told trustees she had managed large budgets and written governance and compliance policy. "I've managed budgets millions of dollars," Herrod said. "If the job description had had library experience on it I wouldn't have sent the letter. The job description was broad and wanted community service."

After discussion and public comment, the trustees voted to appoint Kristen Lima interim director. The board also discussed proceeding with a standard open recruitment for a permanent library director.

The interim appointment is intended as a temporary step while the board completes its search process; trustees said they expect to continue evaluating candidates when the permanent position is advertised.

Ending note: The board did not set a specific timeline for the permanent search during the special-called meeting.