Distances vanish with today’s computer programs that allow meetings to take place with participants thousands of miles apart. And so it was on April 24 when the Mattapoisett Select Board met (remotely) with Colleen Tierney, finalist for the vacant position of Mattapoisett Free Public Library.
After the interview, the board recessed to Executive Session where they voted to offer the position to Tierney. On April 29, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco confirmed an offer was made and accepted.
During the interview process, Tierney discussed her decades-long career primarily in Texas where she currently resides and presently holds the position of director of Library Services in the city of Kyle.
In that role, Tierney noted leadership skills demonstrated with the implemented teams within the library system, professional development of staff members, partnership with the Friends of Kyle Library, research of a book mobile for better service to the community and books sales. She stated that she is responsible for 13 staff members.
Tierney’s stated leadership strengths include courageous communication, empathetic listening, growth mindset, and equity-and-inclusion dialogue.
Regarding fiscal matters, the candidate pointed to working with city council to remove fines, budget development to create new positions, instituting a team culture, collaboration with the Library Advisory Board to revise collections and develop policy that could withstand rising book challenges and collaboration with the city’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission to develop programs and resources that meet the needs of a growing and diverse community.
Of Mattapoisett’s library, Tierney said the biggest opportunity she believes is “space.” With a finite amount of room within the structure and volume of materials available to check out, she believes there is opportunity to review those materials. She also commented that given the town’s population, there are opportunities to bring generations closer to learn from one another.
The board members gave the candidate a bit of caution, saying she has “big shoes to fill” given that the last two directors were excellent stewards of an asset the town cherishes – its library.
Tierney was asked why she wanted to move north, what was her reason. She responded that having gone to school in Rhode Island and New York (BA from Providence College in Social Science and a masters from Syracuse University in Library and Information Studies), she had always planned to move north. She said her children are grown and the time is right for her to make a career and location move.
When asked how much time she would need to make the move to Mattapoisett, Tierney responded, “I’m ready now.”
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell