The Timberland Regional Library (TRL) Board of Trustees has appointed longtime Library Services Director Andrea Heisel to the role of interim executive director, effective Thursday, May 21.
The appointment comes after former Executive Director Cheryl Heywood resigned amid an ongoing budget crisis in March.
The Board of Trustees began its search for an interim executive director in April.
“The board selected Heisel after a deliberate and comprehensive review intended to identify the candidate best prepared to lead the library during this critical period,” TRL said in a news release. “The board believes this appointment positions TRL to move forward with confidence, continuity, and a renewed commitment to transparency, stewardship, and community engagement.”
As library services director, Heisel has been leading TRL “in an acting capacity” since Heywood’s resignation, according to TRL.
“Throughout this period, the board has had the opportunity to observe firsthand her thoughtful decision making, commitment to transparency, and ability to lead independently while keeping the organization focused on immediate priorities and long-term goals,” TRL said in a news release.
Heisel joined TRL in 2017 and has a combined total of 26 years of library experience.
As the interim executive director, Heisel is charged with the immediate review of planned cost-cutting measures, restoring trust with community members, and positioning TRL to pursue a levy lid lift.
That levy lid lift is a critical part of TRL’s plan to fill its $3.8 million deficit and balance the budget long term without significant layoffs.
Heisel will also focus on strengthening budget development and financial tracking practices, expanding community outreach and public dialogue, fostering a healthy and accountable organizational culture, strengthening partnerships with Friends of the Library groups and other library advocates, and working closely with the board to communicate TRL priorities, initiatives, and goals in clear and accessible ways.
The salary range is for the interim executive director position is set at $13,333 to $17,500 per month, with benefits.
Heywood’s 2025 salary was $206,788, which breaks down to roughly $17,232 per month.
Heisel’s salary for her new role was not publicly available Thursday afternoon.
Heisel’s appointment quickly drew public criticism from library advocates who say Heisel’s actions as library services director directly contributed to TRL’s systemic problems and current budget crisis.
Heisel has frequently been named by community members as one of four administrators who has greatly contributed to the financial and culture problems within TRL. She was also allegedly involved in developing TRL’s widely criticised plan to involuntarily lay off 61 frontline library workers earlier this year.
TRL reworked that plan, reducing the number of involuntary layoffs to eight, after the library workers union AFSCME Local 3758-B threatened legal action for breach of contract.
Many community members who gave public comment to the Board of Trustees during the interim director search said they would not support a TRL levy lid lift if the board appointed a current TRL administrator to the interim position.
The Patron Coalition for Local Libraries (PCLL) confirmed Wednesday night that, with Heisel at the helm, the grassroots advocacy group would not stand behind TRL for a levy lid lift.
“We want to explicitly state that our organization cannot and will not in good conscience support a levy lid lift for TRL while anyone who played a part in the corrupt TRL administration remains in charge,” PCLL said in a news release. “We cannot support an interim who stood by and either actively enabled the abuse of staff or overlooked it, nor can we support a board that refuses to engage with the public in any sort of good faith.”
PCLL called Heisel’s appointment “a slap in the face of the public,” including the 2,692 community members who signed onto a PCLL petition that demanded a complete administrative change within TRL in order to restore faith in the system.
“That faith is now more damaged than ever,” PCLL stated in the release, issuing a vote of no confidence in the TRL Board of Trustees and calling for the board’s five members to each “take responsibility for their oversight of the destruction of our library system by stepping down immediately.”
PCLL also called for AFSCME Local 3758-B to issue a vote of no-confidence in Heisel and the TRL Board of Trustees.
“We are in full support of any strikes, protests, or walkouts and invite the public to join with us in protesting this embarrassingly out-of-touch, completely unacceptable choice on the part of the Board of Trustees,” PCLL stated.
AFSCME Local 3758-B has not yet made a decision regarding a vote of no-confidence in Heisel, citing a need to balance its members’ calls for accountability with the reality that TRL needs to pass a levy lid lift to avoid further layoffs.
“The reality is that without new revenue this year, further layoffs are likely — and they could be even larger than the first round,” AFSCME Local 3758-B staff representative Beth Gawne said in a written statement to the Thurston Chronicle. “The union supports solutions that ensure the library system’s long-term sustainability, and a levy lid lift is critical to that. We do not want to see any of our members lose their livelihoods or our communities lose their libraries.”
Union members still “expect accountability and a clear path forward,” Gawne said, adding that the union does understand “the frustration with current leadership, particularly given the decisions that have brought us to this point.”
The decision about a formal vote of no confidence rests with union members through a democratic process, and “so far, no such decision has been made,” Gawne said.
While TRL acknowledged that Heisel’s appointment “reflects continuity in TRL’s leadership,” the board “views her deep institutional knowledge as a significant strength at a time when stability, understanding of the organization, and informed decision-making are essential,” TRL said in a news release. “The board is confident in her ability to lead with independence, transparency, and a clear vision for the future.”
The interim executive director is intended to be a temporary position, lasting between six and 12 months, while TRL searches for a permanent executive director.
Heisel’s appointment as interim executive director does not preclude her from applying to the permanent executive director position.
“The search for a regular executive director will begin immediately and will be thorough, inclusive, and informed by the upcoming independent assessments in the months ahead,” TRL said in a news release.
