GN Library appoints Johnson as interim assistant director

Justine Schoenbart

The Great Neck Library Board of Trustees appointed Christine Johnson to the position of interim assistant director at its special board meeting on Tuesday night.

Johnson previously worked as interim assistant director from the period of September 2013 to December 2014, and has been serving as the interim director since January.

She has been with the Great Neck Library since 2001, working in the children’s department, reference department, and technical services. She said she is also involved in the building advisory committee and worked closely with past library director, Laura Weir, doing statistical work, which she said was one of the reasons she was initially recommended for the interim assistant director position.

In her position, she will be working with the new executive director, Kathy Giotsas, who will be taking on the position beginning Aug. 3.

Johnson said she plans to continue her involvement in the building advisory committee while in her new position. She will  be working on the staffing of libraries while the Main Branch is closed for construction, and the restaffing when the main building reopens. She also plans on assisting the new director with adult programming.

She said she will be working on a structural organization project for library management with Giotsas. Due to the Main Branch project, which began about a year ago, all titles in the middle layer of management are currently using the term “interim.”

Johnson said she predicts the project will take at least six more months, as the library needs to get input from both the Department Heads Association and the Great Neck Library Staff Association to complete the project.

In terms of goals for the upcoming year, she said she hopes to work with Giotsas to introduce new programming and technology, and also make decisions regarding sound and security systems for the new building.

Johnson said the construction of the new building is “in full force.”

The library board will hold its next special board meeting on Aug. 18 at the Parkville Branch.

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