NEWFANE — A new library director has been hired ahead of Newfane Public Library’s scheduled reopening later this month.
The library board of trustees appointed Gretchen Schweigert as library director. The library will reopen on May 28, the same day as the election to fill four recently vacated board seats.
Board secretary and interim president Christina Wright told the Union-Sun & Journal that candidates for the election will be announced “in the next week.”
The library has been closed for renovations and asbestos removal since the end of February, following the mass resignation of the entire library staff and four trustees.
Schweigert previously was the library director at Royalton-Hartland Community Library for seven years and served as a trustee of the Roy-Hart library for two years. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alfred University and a master’s degree in Information and Library Science from University at Buffalo.
“Gretchen is looking forward to expanding the customer service and community outreach the Newfane Public Library offers,” Wright said. “The trustees are confident that Gretchen is a great fit for the Newfane Public Library and the Newfane community and look forward to working with her. Gretchen’s priority will be staffing and preparing the library for re-opening.”
At the board’s April 2 business meeting, trustee Kim Chenez confirmed that removal of asbestos that had been found in the flooring of the front part of the library building is complete.
The board is also looking to form a volunteer group, Friends of the Library, whose responsibilities would include helping out at library events and fundraising.
The trustee election will be held at the library, 2761 Maple Ave., from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 28.