The director of the Gwinnett County Library was fired “without cause” Wednesday night following a 3-1 vote by the Board of Trustees, the board chair said.
Nancy Stanbery-Kellam had served as executive director since Sept. 8, 2008, Library Board Chairman Dick Goodman said in an emailed statement. County funding for libraries has dropped from $18.9 million in 2009 to $15.1 million this year.
Libraries across the country are experiencing financial and technological challenges, Goodman said.
“Many are having to redefine their missions, focusing increasingly on meeting a public need and delivering a public service,” Goodman said. “A part of that challenge is how can they do that most effectively and efficiently with limited taxpayer money.”
The board felt that new leadership would help the Gwinnett library system, Goodman said.
“In a changing environment, all institutions and organizations, including libraries, flourish with a change in leadership,” he said.
The library board voted Jan. 14 to restore six hours per week to each of the county’s 15 branches — hours that had been cut in recent years because of reduced county tax revenue.
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