PORT HADLOCK — Along with moving into a renovated building, the Jefferson County Library is in line for new leadership: Library Director Ray Serebrin is retiring and will be replaced by Associate Director Meredith Wagner.
“This is a fantastic move,” Serebrin said Monday about his successor at the library helm. “Meredith is connected to the community and is an integral part of the organization.”
The change of leadership is scheduled for Nov. 1.
The library closed Monday and will reopen June 3 in the renovated space at 620 Cedar Ave. after five months at a temporary location.
Bookmobile services will continue.
All books checked out during the closure are due at the library’s reopening.
Serebrin and Wagner will work on the library’s return and then plan for the future, he said.
“Meredith and I will work on next year’s budget during the months preceding my retirement,” he said. “This will provide us with a good transition.”
Serebrin, 65, has been library director for 11 years.
Wagner, 51, has been with the system for 23 years.
As the library’s associate director, she has administered all library personnel, finance and public relations activities, developed numerous service initiatives and coordinated the library’s adult education programs.
Wagner was one of the founders and system administrator for the Cooperative Libraries Automated Network (CLAN), which provides a shared catalog and collections throughout the county through a network of public and school libraries.
She received a 2002 Washington Library Association Award for Outstanding Performance.
Serebrin said he does not have any concrete plans for his retirement but hopes to grow “the perfect carrot” on the small farm that he owns.
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
