JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Marion County resident Christine Van Hamersveld shared her concerns with the County Commission regarding the Executive Director position for the Marion County Library Board.
Van Hamersveld explained that she applied for the Executive Director role in March. She believes she meets the necessary qualifications for the position. She originally chose not to apply in 2023, hoping other qualified candidates would pursue the opportunity. However, after observing what she felt was the hiring of an underqualified individual—whose performance negatively affected the board—she decided to apply when the position reopened earlier this year.
“I applied because I thought I could collaborate with all parties to address finance and policy concerns, ensure library directors had training for inventory and other management tasks, and improve the summer reading program,” Van Hamersveld said.
She also raised concerns about how the job listing was posted. It appeared publicly only one day before the application deadline and was not advertised on major library job platforms such as the Tennessee Library Association’s (TLA) website or other widely used search sites, resulting in minimal exposure.
After she and another local applicant, who she said lacked the qualifications for the role, applied, the board once again selected someone Van Hamersveld believes is unqualified. She linked this issue to broader concerns about the board, including the possibility of Carolyn Stewart Library forming its own municipal board and ongoing financial mismanagement.
“There’s an ongoing controversy regarding funds managed by the Library Board. State audits have continued to come back with deficiencies. The Tennessee Comptroller recently issued a letter to the Library Board regarding discrepancies in reported employee payroll amounts. And the Library Director of the Beene Pearson Library in South Pittsburg was fired on April 21,” Van Hamersveld told the commission.
She questioned whether the Executive Director position should still exist, noting the board now oversees only two public libraries in the county. Commissioner Ruric Brandt raised additional concerns about potential legal consequences related to the recent firing of South Pittsburg’s library director, Kellye Hogan, who, he said, may not have properly resigned.
County Attorney William Gouger responded that the Library Board operates under its own policies and regulations, meaning responsibility for any mistakes falls primarily on the board.
The commission agreed to hold a workshop with Attorney Gouger to address the application concerns and other controversies involving the Library Board.
