The Timberland Regional Library (TRL) is accepting applications for interim executive director.
The Board of Trustees approved a job description and salary range for the position during a special meeting on Monday, April 6, and posted the job to its website the following day.
The position will remain open until filled. Initial consideration will be given to applicants whose materials are received by noon, on Friday, April 10. Virtual interviews are tentatively planned for Saturday, April 18.
“This is intended to be a temporary position to provide leadership, support and guidance during the transition period until a regular Executive Director is appointed,” TRL states in the job description, listing an approximate employment period of six to 12 months.
The salary range is set at $13,333 to $17,500 per month, with benefits.
Former Executive Director Cheryl Heywood’s 2025 salary was $206,788, which breaks down to roughly $17,232 per month.
Heywood, who started as TRL’s executive director in 2013, resigned from her position effective immediately on March 25. She will be paid through June 30.
TRL notes in the job posting that the interim director will need to lead the district through both the leadership transition and a possible levy lift.
“Throughout their tenure, they are responsible for fostering strong connections with our diverse communities, promoting and supporting TRL’s programs and projects, and overseeing the implementation of TRL’s strategic direction,” TRL states in the job posting. “In collaboration with the Leadership team, the Interim Executive Director communicates big picture ideas, models and upholds TRL’s values and advocates for the effective utilization of TRL resources.”
Applicants are asked to submit a resume, a letter of interest and a written response to the question “How would you prepare TRL for their next regular Executive Director?”
While state law has requirements for library executive directors to include a state librarian certification, a masters’ degree in a relevant field, financial experience and experience managing an entity of similar size and scope, TRL lists those qualifications as “desired but not required for this interim position.”
"I think it is important to bring someone in who can get to work as quickly as possible...helping our organization move forward," Board President Brian Mittge remarked ahead of the vote to formally begin the recruitment process. His quote was included in a TRL news release published on Tuesday.
"I'm excited about getting this job posted, and this will help us in the short term as we look for a regular Executive Director,” Mittge stated.
The Board of Trustees has “acknowledged the challenging path ahead for the successful candidate, noting that top priorities will include immediate review of planned cost-cutting measures, restoring trust with community members, and positioning TRL to pursue a levy lid lift on an ambitious timeline,” TRL said in a news release.
"Transitions are always challenging," Mittge said, "but they are also full of opportunities."
The application is accessible online at https://tinyurl.com/ykmk68ft
Heywood's departure and the search for new leadership comes as the regional library system faces a budget crisis that has led to a large wave of layoffs.
Last month, the TRL sent layoff notices to about 20% of its total staff to address a $3.8 million budget deficit.
The union AFSCME Local 3758-B recently confirmed that all 61 employees set to be laid off in May are “frontline” library staff who work directly with patrons across the five-district library system.
When the layoffs go into effect, TRL will lose 38% of its frontline staff, according to the union.
The news of the layoffs led to a letter from eight former TRL Board of Trustees members calling for an investigation into the system's finances and urging the board to reevaluate its priorities.
While the union has called for the Board of Trustees to pause the layoffs, they are still set to go into effect May 15.
Many community members who gave public comments about TRL’s budget crisis in recent weeks called for Heywood’s removal, as well as the removal of administrators Andrea Heisel and Brenda Lane, for their role in creating the budget crisis.
The Board of Trustees held an executive session on March 18 to evaluate the performance of a public employee, presumably Heywood. The details of that evaluation have not been made public.
The Board of Trustees held special meetings on March 30, April 4 and April 6 to discuss the search for interim leadership.
The Board of Trustees has not accepted verbal public comment since the March 25 meeting, but is continuing to accept written public comment.
As of Tuesday evening, the next scheduled meeting was a facilities committee work session set for 4:30 p.m. on April 14.
Lewis County’s two trustees on the board, Mittge and Hal Blanton, are holding an in-person Q&A ahead of the Friends of the Centralia Timberland Library’s quarterly meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 11.
The meeting will take place at the Centralia Timberland Library.
“This meeting is open to the public and we welcome anyone with an interest in supporting the Centralia Timberland Library and Timberland Regional Library as a whole through this challenging time to come, ask questions and engage in a meaningful dialogue,” Friends of the Centralia Timberland Library stated in a social media post announcing the Q&A.
The Board of Trustees’ next regular business meeting is April 22.
