Gloria Grimes is leaving her post as town's head librarian
By Nathan R. Huff
Los Gatos' highly regarded head librarian, Gloria Grimes, is leaving her post and moving to Bend, Ore., with her husband. The town will hire a new librarian by the beginning of July.
Grimes has been at the Los Gatos public library for the last three of her 34 years as a librarian. She said health problems, combined with housing costs and her husband's business problems, led to the couple's decision to leave their Scotts Valley home and head north.
"I'm absolutely going to miss this community," Grimes said. "This is an incredible community; there are really super people here. It's been a pleasure working with all the groups I've worked with."
Grimes is well-regarded by town staff, the library board and the Friends of the Library group. She has played an instrumental role in upgrading the library's computer system and lobbying for the construction of a new library.
"I was hoping she'd stay on a little longer," Dave Knapp, town manager, said. "We had a really good working relationship. I'm just sorry to see her go."
John Housley, president of the library board, was equally saddened. "We're really sorry to see her leave," Housley said. "She's been one of the best librarians we've ever had."
Knapp said the search for a new librarian is already under way. Interviews will be held at the end of May, and Grimes will stay on through part of July to show the new librarian the ropes. The position pays between $85,000 and $106,000 a year.
Library supporters are lobbying the town for a new library, and the town is applying for state grant money to fund part of the construction. The Friends of the Library, regular participants at town meetings, have collected more than 500 signatures in favor of a new facility. Grimes said her biggest concern is that the new head librarian carry on the drive for a new library.
"I'm really happy the community has become aware of the need for a new library," Grimes said. "Now they can move forward with trying to get the funding for that project."
As for Grimes, she plans on taking some much-needed vacation. "Then, I'd like to explore some other things that have interested me, maybe webpage design," she said.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
