January 2022 has surprised us with a few changes to our staff at the Idaho Commission for Libraries. Like many others affected by The Great Resignation, we experienced our own version here just this past month. We regretfully accepted resignations from our new Public Library Consultant Ash Whitwell, our LiLI Librarian Allison Floyd, and our Grants/Contracts Officer Jamie Mott, who all left us to pursue new opportunities elsewhere. Our other long-standing Public Library Consultant Kevin Tomlinson also decided to retire from state service. We wish Ash, Allison, Jamie, and Kevin well in their new adventures.
However, all these staff changes also bring about new opportunities and possibilities here at ICfL, which I am excited to tell you about.
Library Technology Consultant William Lamb, who joined us in January 2021, has accepted the position of E-Services Program Supervisor. In just his first year here, William has been instrumental in assisting numerous public libraries improve their broadband and technology using E-rate, EOR (our state broadband reimbursement), and other funds. With his over 20 years of library and technology experience, we are confident that he will be a great lead for our E-Services Team and all our upcoming digital access initiatives.
Talela Florko will be joining us in mid-February as our new Grants/Contracts Officer. She comes to us with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies, and 8 years of experience as Curator/Archivist/Contract Manager/business owner. With her excellent attention to detail, her expressed joy in reading through the IMLS manual, and her passion for seeing the numbers behind the business, Talela will be an excellent addition to the team!
We know the value of our Public Library Consultants to Idaho public library directors, trustees, staff, and other stakeholders. Therefore, we are actively recruiting to fill a Public Library Consultant position with a new job posting we put up today. Once hired, this new Public Library Consultant will serve the entire state, providing quality service to every public library without the previous regional limitations. We will hold off on immediately filling our other open Public Library Consultant position so we can solicit additional input and feedback from you, the Idaho library community, on the areas of service and consulting that you need most now. We know library service has changed dramatically in these past two years and will continue to look different going forward, so we want to make sure our Library Development team effectively provides the support you need now and into the future.
Change is never easy – especially a large amount of change in a short span of time – but we are confident that we at ICfL are still ready and able to serve you. If you have any questions about any of these changes or need any support you previously would have contacted one of our Public Library Consultants, our LiLI Librarian, or our Grants/Contracts Officer about, please reach out to me (dylan.baker@libraries.idaho.gov or 208-639-4167). I look forward to hearing from you and continuing to support you through the rest of 2022 and beyond.
