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11/15/2017 07:00 AMThis December, for the first time in decades, the Guilford Free Library will have a new director. With longstanding Director Sandy Ruoff leaving in a matter of weeks, the library recently announced that current Assistant Director Rob McCoole is taking the top job.
Ruoff announced back in May that she was joining the Democratic ticket as a Board of Selectman (BOS) candidate for the Nov. 7 election last week and would retire from the library regardless of if she won or lost the election. Ruoff successfully won a seat on the BOS—taking in the most votes among the four candidates—and is now preparing to leave the library after 41 years of service on Nov. 30.
The town and the library board worked together to conduct what became a nationwide search. Out of all the résumés received, three people were interviewed, but McCoole was the clear choice according to Ruoff, who was not a part of the selection process.
“You always like to hire from within as long as you can justify that it’s the right person,” she said. “He has been with the library for 11 years…He has moved up within the organization and now he has moved into this. He got experience in a variety of departments and building-wide issues from technology to the roof to presenting the budget. I am very happy and I think it will be a real benefit to the town.”
McCoole started off as an entry-level reference librarian, moved up to head of the reference department, and then up to assistant director. McCoole said he started getting involved in building-wide issues early because of the library renovation and has continued to work to make the library more efficient.
“I think the lucky thing about this particular position is it is coming from the standpoint of a well-run institution so I am not coming in with a need to reform many things,” he said. “I think what I have already brought is a more of a sense of efficiency and using technology whenever possible…Now a lot more of our attention goes to programming rather than, say, cataloging and that is something I think I can certainly continue with.”
McCoole has two kids in the school system and is a member of various other boards and organizations in town. While he has a long history with the library and is ready to take over as director, he said he is trying not to think too much about whom he is replacing.
“I really find I almost have to block that out because it is so daunting to be in that shadow,” she said. “Sandy is just such a larger-than-life character and it is amazing what she has done for the library and for the town as a whole.”
Ruoff is looking forward to her new position on the BOS and said she will still be stopping by the library.
“I just feel extremely fortunate that I was offered a job here in 1977,” she said. “I am going to miss being at the library but I am not leaving town so I will get to go to some of the programs now and just enjoy them without worrying—I can just be a citizen.”