Carson City Library’s interim library director receives pay raise and praise

Tammy Westergard, appointed interim director of Carson City’s library, received a 10 percent pay boost Thursday.

The Carson City Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Westergard, the deputy director who has been handling the top leadership roles since July 8, and she will be paid $81,161 a year. That’s up from $73,782.80.

“She is really doing two jobs,” said Sandy Foley, board chairwoman. “Well, she’s actually doing six.”

Foley said the board was following standard procedure for city changes and for implementation under such circumstances. She also reported that the search for a new director was under way, with the position advertised beginning June 30 and expected to remain open for new applicants until Aug. 30. More information will be available at the Aug. 29 meeting.

After Thursday evening’s session, Foley said that a week or two ago there were 15 applicants for the top spot. Sara Jones left Carson City’s top library post to take a job in California. She was named director of the Marin County Free Library.

The board includes three members appointed recently by the Carson City Board of Supervisors: Phyllis Patton, Pamela Graber and Dianne Solinger. The fifth member, Robert Kennedy, made the motion to name Westergard interim director and boost her pay.

Westergard gave the board a brief overview about finance reports and a longer one on the visit to the city by C-SPAN video journalists, whose time here included significant exposure to the library. She said the library had “rolled out the red carpet,” and that should reap recurring dividends.

“C-SPAN is 100 million households strong,” she said of the national public-affairs and culture TV network operation, adding the city and library story also will reach the C-SPAN website.

“It’s a great story, and it’s going to be told and retold,” Westergard said.

Westergard’s background includes service as library deputy director and development officer, plus work with the city’s Office of Business Development, involvement in the city Downtown Consortium Project and a tenure as the editor of Carson Magazine.