New Clinton County Library executive director outlines youth-focused priorities

Severio, the newly appointed executive director of the Clinton County Library System, introduced himself to the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 26 during the public comment portion of the meeting. He said he is almost two months into the job and has visited branches in Renovo and Beech Creek as he gets to know the county.

Severio described his previous experience leading a main branch in El Paso, Texas, where he said reopening a downtown branch that had been closed for five years was a major accomplishment. "I was formerly the branch manager of the main library in El Paso, Texas," he said. "It had been closed for 5 years, so it was a big accomplishment reopening the downtown branch that had been the flagship for the community since 1935."

He told the commissioners youth services are a particular passion and said he plans to revitalize programs for "tween and teen" populations countywide. "Youth services is a passion of mine, especially underserved demographics like between and teen," he said, adding his intent is to ensure "that all the libraries across the breadth of the county are thriving and being successful."

Commissioner Harding, who invited Severio to speak, said he appreciated the director coming to the meeting and wished him well. The board took no formal action on library operations during the meeting.

Severio’s appearance was part of the meeting’s public-comment period, which the board uses to introduce new county personnel and provide an opportunity for community members to speak.