A meet and greet with new Library Director Karen Knox, was held at the Orion Township Library on April 12.
‘This is such a fabulous opportunity for me to be able to meet a lot of people from the community. My library board put it together, just to give me a chance to get to know folks,? Knox said. ‘It’s been nice getting to put some names and faces together and watch the kids eat cookies and find out why they’re excited about the library.?
Prior to coming to Orion, she worked as the Department Head of Systems & Technology at Novi Library for five years and then worked as the IT manager and associate director of the Rochester Hills Library.
Knox said she saw the director position posted amongst a library community that she watches and decided to apply for the job.
‘It’s a community I’ve had my eye on for awhile,? she said. ‘It’s just a great building and it’s a great community, everybody here is so supportive of this library, which makes it really easy to enjoy being here.?
Former Director Linda Sickles who stepped into retirement after 31 years said she’s ‘happy to welcome Karen as her successor.?
‘I think she will do a spectacular job in carrying this library through to the future and the age of technology,? Sickles added. ‘It’s been a great community, great staff and great board to work with. I think she’ll find a lot of people to help her.?
With the budget decreasing, Knox said the goal right now is figuring out how to maintain the budget as well as ways to get some of their services back up.
‘I think there are a lot of things we can grow with,? she said ‘There is a good foundation, but I’m hoping we can expand the technology and do more with the current systems that are out there, as well as get integrated on some of the web opportunities and just build on what we have going.?
As for current programs, Knox is looking forward to the library’s summer reading program coming up as well as the library’s fundraiser event ‘Women’s Night Out? on April 27 between 6-8:30 p.m.
As for being the new director, Knox said she’s ‘thrilled.?
‘This is a great library and great community,? she said. ‘I’m really excited.?