Previous manager to direct new Whitefish library

 Joey Kositzky has been hired as the new director of the Whitefish Community Library.

“We have come to a successful conclusion to our negotiations and have hired a director and two staff members for the Whitefish Community Library,” Michael Collins, chairman of the library board of trustees, said in a news release. “We are delighted to have Joey on board beginning June 1 to work on the transition.”

Kositzky has 27 years of library experience — 24 of them as manager of the Whitefish branch of the Flathead County Library system.

Last November, Whitefish City Council members voted to terminate their agreement with Flathead County to operate the branch library and instead operate a city library, following more than a year of strife between the two entities.

The city-county agreement expires June 30.

Kositzky will oversee the daily operations and plan the direction of the independent Whitefish Community Library and also will be involved in training and evaluating staff, selecting materials and planning programs.

“Her breadth of experience as the branch manager will certainly allow for a seamless reorganization once Whitefish breaks from the Flathead County Library System on July 1,” according to a statement from the community library board.

Kositzky is certified by the Montana State Library as a library administrator.

“What has been accomplished in the past, while important, is not as important as where we, as a library, are going,” Kositzky said in a statement.

“I believe strongly in a community-based library. I believe in a library that does not dictate to its community, but listens to it; one that recognizes that national trends, appropriate in some areas, may not necessarily apply to the Whitefish community. As we move forward, I hope we can celebrate the community’s uniqueness and diversity and respond accordingly. I feel extremely privileged to have the opportunity to be a part of this vision.”

At least one other current Whitefish employee will be join Kositzky at the Whitefish library. The board of trustees plans to advertise one additional position to complete initial staffing needs.

The trustees, the new administrative team and more than 70 volunteers will be busy this month ensuring there is a smooth transition by re-cataloging existing books, encouraging and processing new book donations, issuing new library cards (available as early as June 6), and setting up new equipment.

Whitefish plans to maintain involvement in the Montana Shared Catalog.

All Flathead County library cards will be honored at the Whitefish Community Library.  People are encouraged to visit the library’s website, www.whitefishlibrary.org, for more information on the status of the transition and to find out how to support the library by volunteering or making monetary and/or book donations.

Everyone is invited to support the library at a book fair planned for the Fourth of July weekend.  

On July 16, the library will celebrate its grand opening as an independent library. There will be complimentary food, entertainment and local author appearances at the Whitefish Community Library grounds at 9 Spokane Avenue.