Kathy Mosher is used to driving change and finding new ways to do things.
In her previous jobs, she's headed up a department within the Canadian Depository for Securities Limited and overseen a major renovation project of the library at Champlain College Saint-Lambert in Montreal, where she's originally from.
“You have to develop a really good understanding of what their needs are,” Mosher said of working with a diverse group of people.
Mosher is now trying to do just that with the residents of Skaneateles.
On Dec. 10, she officially began her duties as the Skaneateles Library's director.
This is the first director in the library's history, said Kate Cogswell, president of the Skaneateles Library Association's board of directors.
De Ann Porter, longtime head librarian, is now the library manager.
She will oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility, while Mosher will be in charge of setting policy and strategizing for future projects.
Cogswell said that the board has long thought about bringing a director in as a way to enhance the facility and supplement Porter and the rest of the staff's work.
The whole paradigm of libraries has shifted in the last 10 years, Cogswell noted, and the board felt that some changes needed to made to keep the public library relevant.
“We were really looking for somebody to kind of lead us into the future for libraries,” Cogswell said.
“It's pretty clear that we've got to take it to the next step for the community.”
Mosher is new to the area, having moved to Cicero in June to join her husband, Ralph Pokuls, who was already working for Anaren.
“It was serendipitous,” Mosher said of the job opening at the Skaneateles Library. “It literally just dropped into my lap.”
Mosher interviewed at the library this fall, and “within 90 seconds, I thought, ‘Yeah, I want that job,' ” she recalled.
She said that she was impressed with the building itself and with the friendliness of the Skaneateles Library Association's board of directors.
“We just connected,” said Mosher, who will meet with the board at least once a month. “I think the relationship is that I'm definitely part of the team.”
The board, which interviewed eight candidates, was equally impressed with Mosher.
“She's a dynamo. She's got loads of energy,” said Cogswell, one of 12 members of the all-volunteer board.
Mosher's immediate goals include getting to know the area and doing an assessment of what the community's needs and wants are.
Right now, the library's strengths are its dedicated staff and the charm of the building itself, Mosher said, but she would like to address ways to enhance the library's digital resources and use of space.
“It's about the facility and what you can do in the facility beyond just reading a book,” Mosher said, noting that she could see the library adding to its list of programs.
Mosher wants to get residents thinking about what can be done to improve the library's services, and she'd like to make it more user-friendly to a wider range of people.
Any changes that are made will be done in a way that respects tradition, Mosher said, adding that she'll be working in cooperation with Porter, who Mosher said has an extensive knowledge of the history of the library and what works well.
“If you're going to make changes, you don't just arbitrarily do it.
“You do it in a way that makes sense,” Mosher said.
Mosher holds a bachelor's degree in history from Queen's University and a master's in library science from McGill University.
Prior to coming to Skaneateles, she worked for three years as the library coordinator at Champlain College Saint-Lambert, a 2,700-student junior college.
Before that, she worked for 12 years for the Canadian Depository for Securities Limited as a technical writer and then manager of the writing and translation teams (all documents that came out of the department had to be in English and French).
Skaneateles Library, located at 49 E. Genesee St., is an independent, private corporation that is open to the public and that receives no federal, state or local tax money.
It obtains much of its funding from endowments and an annual fund drive.
If you go
What: Skaneateles Library
Where: 49 East Genesee Street, Skaneateles
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays
For details: Call 685-5135
“You have to develop a really good understanding of what their needs are,” Mosher said of working with a diverse group of people.
Mosher is now trying to do just that with the residents of Skaneateles.
On Dec. 10, she officially began her duties as the Skaneateles Library's director.
This is the first director in the library's history, said Kate Cogswell, president of the Skaneateles Library Association's board of directors.
De Ann Porter, longtime head librarian, is now the library manager.
She will oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility, while Mosher will be in charge of setting policy and strategizing for future projects.
Cogswell said that the board has long thought about bringing a director in as a way to enhance the facility and supplement Porter and the rest of the staff's work.
The whole paradigm of libraries has shifted in the last 10 years, Cogswell noted, and the board felt that some changes needed to made to keep the public library relevant.
“We were really looking for somebody to kind of lead us into the future for libraries,” Cogswell said.
“It's pretty clear that we've got to take it to the next step for the community.”
Mosher is new to the area, having moved to Cicero in June to join her husband, Ralph Pokuls, who was already working for Anaren.
“It was serendipitous,” Mosher said of the job opening at the Skaneateles Library. “It literally just dropped into my lap.”
Mosher interviewed at the library this fall, and “within 90 seconds, I thought, ‘Yeah, I want that job,' ” she recalled.
She said that she was impressed with the building itself and with the friendliness of the Skaneateles Library Association's board of directors.
“We just connected,” said Mosher, who will meet with the board at least once a month. “I think the relationship is that I'm definitely part of the team.”
The board, which interviewed eight candidates, was equally impressed with Mosher.
“She's a dynamo. She's got loads of energy,” said Cogswell, one of 12 members of the all-volunteer board.
Mosher's immediate goals include getting to know the area and doing an assessment of what the community's needs and wants are.
Right now, the library's strengths are its dedicated staff and the charm of the building itself, Mosher said, but she would like to address ways to enhance the library's digital resources and use of space.
“It's about the facility and what you can do in the facility beyond just reading a book,” Mosher said, noting that she could see the library adding to its list of programs.
Mosher wants to get residents thinking about what can be done to improve the library's services, and she'd like to make it more user-friendly to a wider range of people.
Any changes that are made will be done in a way that respects tradition, Mosher said, adding that she'll be working in cooperation with Porter, who Mosher said has an extensive knowledge of the history of the library and what works well.
“If you're going to make changes, you don't just arbitrarily do it.
“You do it in a way that makes sense,” Mosher said.
Mosher holds a bachelor's degree in history from Queen's University and a master's in library science from McGill University.
Prior to coming to Skaneateles, she worked for three years as the library coordinator at Champlain College Saint-Lambert, a 2,700-student junior college.
Before that, she worked for 12 years for the Canadian Depository for Securities Limited as a technical writer and then manager of the writing and translation teams (all documents that came out of the department had to be in English and French).
Skaneateles Library, located at 49 E. Genesee St., is an independent, private corporation that is open to the public and that receives no federal, state or local tax money.
It obtains much of its funding from endowments and an annual fund drive.
If you go
What: Skaneateles Library
Where: 49 East Genesee Street, Skaneateles
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays
For details: Call 685-5135
