I would like to welcome Sal Genovese as the new director of the Walpole Public Library. He started this week, and is taking on some huge responsibilities. Here are the 10 questions someone should ask him:
1. Are you aware that the Walpole Town Administrator has a proven record of slashing the library budget unfairly, and bringing the library to the brink of losing accreditation, or worse? Are you aware that he has even proposed regionalizing the library? What strategies do you plan to employ to combat the Town Administrator’s ignorant attitude towards the library? Will you invite him in for a guided tour at any point to show him firsthand how many people actually do visit the library on a daily basis?
2. What was the number one reason you decided to come to Walpole?
3. Do you plan to move your home to Walpole or a neighboring town?
4. How long do you plan to remain in this position? How long did you remain as director in Marlborough, and what is your ultimate career goal? Do you plan to work in Walpole for the long-term?
5. You seem excited about the plans for a new Walpole Library. What sort of changes, if any, would you like to see in the designs for the new building? Do you support proposals for the new library to more fully utilize the rooftop, rent out café space, and put in a proper archival vault for local historical resources? Would you support self-checkout machines in the new library?
6. What is your favorite book, and what is the most recent book you have read? How many library cards do you own, and to which libraries? How long have you held a library card?
7. What do you believe the future holds for libraries? Do eBooks represent the future of books and reading? Will you be working to expand the library’s use of technology and the internet?
8. What do you plan to do to increase community participation in library programs and in general bring more people in to use the library and its services?
9. What changes would you like to see implemented in library policies, namely in your specialty of customer service, if any?
10. What type of cost savings ideas, if any, do you have for saving money at the library?
