When new Pima County Public Library director Melinda Cervantes rolls into town next month, she may the new kid on the block, but she'll arrive with some roots already in the ground.
Her husband Doug is from Tucson, and she has a lot of family in Arizona.
She was the Pinal County librarian before she became head of the Santa Clara County Library District in California, where she served for 10 years.
Cervantes was selected to replace Nancy Ledeboer, who who departed for Spokane.
She starts her new $135,000-a-year job in Tucson next month.
As she prepares to take charge, she shared a few thoughts.
Q: More people are relying on the library for help with homework, job searches and tax preparation. Is that a good thing?
People are also reading…
A: "It's certainly a good thing that the library is there to help people who need the resources. Libraries have seen an increase in use with the economy being the way it is, and people are rediscovering our services."
Q: What is the place of digital materials in the library?
A: "They are great tools for those who have them and own them - and for those who don't, they can find them, both the devices and the downloads, at the library. I think they're here to stay."
Q: How will you make sure the library is a good steward of taxpayer dollars?
A: "I think Pima County Public Library has a very good foundation in this community. Between the Friends of the Library, the library foundations and the many volunteer opportunities, there are a lot of ways in which the public can be involved. The library has a strategic plan that will need to be updated before too long, and the public will be invited to participate."
Q: What books have you read recently?
A: " 'The Butterfly Mosque' by G. Willow Wilson and 'The Muslim Next Door' by Sumbul Ali-Karamali as part of Silicon Valley Reads, which is a one-book, one-county program."
Q: Which of the recent young-adult book series was your favorite?
A: "I read the 'Harry Potter' series. I have not read 'Twilight,' but I am going to read 'Hunger Games.'"
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@azstarnet.com or 573-4346.
