Douglas librarian takes job in Illinois

With the resignation of Douglas County Librarian Amy Dodson, members of the Douglas County Library Board will meet 10:30 a.m. July 20 to discuss appointing an interim director.

The following week, the board will begin work on the process to select a new director.

“The Douglas County Library Board is starting a new five-year strategic plan for the library and we look forward to planning how the library will be serving the community in the future,” said Library Board Chairwoman Bonnie Rogers.

Dodson’s resignation was effective July 9. The Fox River Public Library District Board of Trustees named Dodson executive director June 24.

“I resigned from Douglas County last week,” she said. “I’m very happy about my decision to leave.”

The Illinois library district cited her receipt of the Paul Howard Award for Courage from the American Library Association in 2021, in relation to last year’s effort to include #Black Lives Matter in the library’s diversity statement.

A response from Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley prompted an August 2020 protest and counter protest that brought 1,000 people to Minden.

The statement was never approved by the Library Board of Trustees, who will begin work to find a new library director.

“Amy brings a broad and solid base of library experience to our district, along with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that is so important to our community,” said Board of Trustees President Richard Corbett. “Her appointment demonstrates the board 's ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of service to the district.”

For information about the Library, visit https://library.douglascountynv.gov.