Denmark Library Update: Staffing

Submitted by Anna Lyle

Recent Denmark Library updates have focused on construction, but today’s update concerns staffing. 

Please note that the time frames provided in this post will change as the construction schedule changes due to rain days and other factors.

I’m pleased to announce that Sarah Reynolds will be the Branch Manager for the Denmark Library. It was important to us that the Denmark Branch Manager be experienced with this role at FCPL and, ideally, have experience opening a new library. Sarah is currently the Branch Manager at Sharon Forks. Sarah’s first role with FCPL was as an Information Services Supervisor at the Post Road Library, where she was part of the supervisory team that opened that location. Since then, she has held leadership positions in Materials and Outreach before accepting the Branch Manager position at Sharon Forks. Congratulations to Sarah on this new challenge!

Sarah will continue as the Sharon Forks Branch Manager for several months. During this time, she will be involved in planning for the new branch but will continue to spend most of her time at Sharon Forks.

We expect to open the new library in October or November 2024. We expect Sarah to transfer to the full-time Denmark Branch Manager role in June or July. We plan to advertise the Sharon Forks Branch Manager position in mid-March.

Meanwhile, we will be discussing our funding needs with Forsyth County Government. If we receive the requested funding, we will staff the new location similarly to the staffing at the Post Road Library. We expect to hire the three remaining supervisors in July, Information and Youth staff in August or September (plenty of time for training!), and CSAs in September.

Denmark Library will open with a mixture of new and existing staff. Current staff will be given an opportunity to request a transfer to the new library. You are welcome to go ahead and express your interest, but we will officially ask for transfer requests in May.

You may be wondering what would happen if we do not receive the full funding needed to operate the new library. Our solution would depend on the amount of the funding shortage, but could include reductions in service hours at all libraries and staff transfers. For those of you who remember funding problems when we opened Hampton Park and Post Road libraries, please keep in mind that those libraries opened during the Great Recession. The County had to lay off County employees and reduce funding for all departments. Today’s economic situation is very different than it was then, so I am optimistic. Also, the County has been aware of the operating costs of the Denmark Library since 2017, when it was first considered for the SPLOST 8 project list.

I’m already looking forward to the grand opening! Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.