Middleboro library trustees approve offer for new library director

MIDDLEBORO — The Board of Library Trustees recently voted to offer the vacant Middleboro library director position to Beth Paine, a New York-based library director with over eight years of library directing experience.

After successful contract negotiations, Paine would fill the position that has been vacant since the previous library director Randy Gagné moved on to work in Sharon in mid-January.

After fielding applications from 14 candidates, the board interviewed six of them and Paine was the only applicant that reached the final interview stage.

Trustees Chair James Okolita said he was “impressed” by Paine’s interviews and doesn’t see her New York background coming to Middleboro as an “overburdensome” issue, since states have different requirements for how libraries operate. 

“If you look at our scoring system that was set up, [Paine] was far and above everyone else, so I think all the indicators are there,” Okolita said.

Trustee Dianne Stewart agreed and said Paine is a “strong candidate” who has the work experience the board is looking for. 

During the March 9 meeting, trustees discussed concerns over only interviewing one candidate in the final process. Okolita said the board did their due diligence, and the applicant pool was slim due to a regional shortage of qualified directors, and the conflict between library leaders and the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library that occurred last year.

Trustee Marissa Boutin said almost all of the applicants were aware of how the library managed the conflict and said Paine showed “in-depth knowledge” on the library severing all ties to the nonprofit group.

Trustees noted there might be a learning curve for Paine to adjust to the requirements of Massachusetts library systems, but Stewart said Paine seems like she is comfortable doing research and learning the ropes of how Massachusetts libraries are ran.

With over eight years of library leadership experience, Paine has worked at five New York libraries according to her LinkedIn profile. Her most recent role was at the Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia, New York.

She holds one Masters Degree of Education in School Library and Information Technologies from the Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. She holds a second Masters Degree of Library and Information Science from Drexel University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

As far as a hiring timeframe, trustees said Paine is already looking for places to live in town, and the board will vote to approve a contract with her at their next meeting.