Barta-Norton leaves Dudley library director post

Saturday hours suspended

by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – Nancy Barta-Norton has stepped down from her position as Director of the Pearle M. Crawfold  Memorial Library. She was chosen for the position last August, following the June departure of Matt Hall L. Hall, who had served as director for three years.

Ms. Barta-Norton, of Cranston, Rhode Island, was a lead librarian at Johnson & Wales University before the Dudley library trustees picked her from among 12 applicants.

Library trustee Patricia Korch, spokesperson for the board, would not discuss the departure, saying “it's a confidential personnel matter.”

Reached by phone, Ms. Barta-Norton said, “I don't have any comments to make about it,” and hung up.     

Trustees have begun the search for a new Library Director, and in the interim voted to appoint Kathryn Farnsworth Dunton as its temporary director, effective immediately. Ms. Dunton currently serves as the Children's Librarian.

“We believe that our dedicated staff and volunteers, along with the opportunity to manage within a beautiful new building in an active community, will be attractive to potential candidates,” said Ms. Korch.

Trustees also announced that Saturday hours at the library will be suspended due to a staffing shortage.

In a statement, trustee Korch said the following: “The library trustees and staff regret any inconvenience that the reduction in service hours may cause, and we hope to resume Saturday hours in the near future. We have an excellent staff at the library, but the majority of our staff members are employed on a part-time basis. Unfortunately, it is a normal part of attrition that circumstances change and employees leave their positions. Until we determine the best way to fill the staffing needs, the library trustees felt that suspending Saturday hours was the most appropriate decision at this time.”