By Rich Pollack
In an effort to maintain stability and continuity of operations at its public library, Highland Beach has named veteran librarian Suzy Hayes as interim director.
Hayes has worked at the library for the last three years as a part-time events coordinator. She was selected by Town Manager Beverly Brown last month to temporarily fill the director’s position.
The library has been without a permanent department head since the sudden May resignation of longtime library director Mari Suarez.
Hayes, 66, who has a master’s degree in library science from Wayne State University and an undergraduate degree in German from Albion College, both in Michigan, has more than three decades of library experience, having worked in both the public and private sectors.
Prior to taking the part-time position as events coordinator at the Highland Beach Library, Hayes spent seven years as the director of Parkland Public Library in Broward County.
She oversaw the construction of the library when she took the job in 2003 and ran it until 2010. That library, Hayes said, was similar in size to the Highland Beach Public Library but served a more family-oriented community.
Hayes also served as a project manager working on the construction of a joint library between Nova Southeastern University and the Broward County Library which, at 500,000 square feet, became the largest physical library in Florida.
In addition, she previously managed the library for a private corporation in Broward County and worked for the Broward County Library system. Hayes also served as president of the International Special Libraries Association, which has members in 60 countries. Hayes said she is currently developing a survey to be conducted during the winter season in order to better understand the needs and concerns of library users. In addition, she’s working to ensure open communication between the library and the Friends of the Highland Beach Library, a nonprofit organization that supports the library.
“By engaging the community, the Friends of the Library and our elected officials, we can move forward,” she said.
Hayes, who is paid $30 an hour while interim director, says she has not yet decided if she will seek the full-time director’s position.
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