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Clarksburg names Shannon Dean interim director of Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library
Summary
The council was introduced to Shannon Dean, the interim director of the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library. Dean outlined services the library offers — including a "library of things," hotspots, passport services and outreach — and invited deeper partnerships with city departments and community groups.
Victor Folio introduced Shannon Dean as the new interim director of the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library on the council chamber floor. Dean said she has served as interim director since November and previously worked at the library in programming and marketing.
"Our mission at the library is to provide spaces, resources, and activities that promote literacy, lifelong learning, and community connection for everyone," Dean said, summarizing the library's goals and outreach focus.
Dean described a range of services the library offers beyond books: a "library of things" that includes STEM kits, puzzles, cake pans, walkie-talkies, fishing poles and board games; lending hotspots for residents with low internet bandwidth; free computer use and scanning, faxing, printing, and notary services; and passport processing. She said the library processed 366 passport applications last year and that passport fees bring in roughly $10,000 in annual revenue.
Dean said the library runs roughly 50 to 60 programs a month for all ages, maintains a dedicated teen space with recreational options, conducts pop-up outreach at senior centers, long-term care facilities, schools and retail locations, and has recently partnered with local recovery and shelter programs to provide life-skills programming.
She invited council members to meet and discuss where the library might fill gaps in local services, and said the library would welcome opportunities to partner with any planned social-worker outreach programs.
Council members praised the library's programming and outreach. Councilmember Kelswick, who attended a recent meeting with library staff, said the library is an important "third space" — a free community place where people can meet and access services — and welcomed Dean's approach.
The council did not take formal action on library staffing at the meeting; Dean's appointment was presented as an interim administrative update and an invitation to build partnerships with city departments and community groups.
The library's announcement and Dean's remarks were made during the petitions and communications portion of the meeting.
