Library director steps down

By Stephen Clearheart Johnson
North Forty News

After four years on the job, the much-appreciated director of the Red Feather Lakes Community Library, Sarah Myers, is leaving to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in the library business.

In a recent interview, Myers expressed pride in the library's accomplishments during her tenure, particularly growth in circulation and the expansion of children's services.

"We've seen large increases in our circulation," she said, noting that with 12,000 items in stock the circulation has hit 12,000 annually - a 100 percent turnover rate.

"We have a unique library because we're such a small community to achieve such a turnover rate," Myers said.

This is possible, she explained, because of the tremendous support from the community. Volunteers and funding through the voter-approved tax district allows the library to focus on community service.

"After all," Myers noted, "community is in our name."

Her pet name for her workplace is "the little library that could."

Once dubbed the unofficial mayor of Red Feather, Myers likes to point out that "the library is a place where you can come without having to buy anything."

She will remain in the northern Colorado area, working out of her home with her husband, Ben, in the development of his business of providing software for libraries. She also will do freelance consulting in information services, including indexing for books and web sites, as well as service and research for authors and publishers.

The Myers are also accomplished musicians and often perform as a duet playing Celtic and international folk music. The two met while both were music students at the University of Northern Colorado. Sarah plays flute, while Ben plays mandolin and bouzouki.

Myers notes that she is "eager to be an entrepreneur," but will miss working with the library. She wistfully noted, "I wish I could be in two places at once."