558 N. Main St., Prineville, OR 97754 | (541) 447-6205
After working about two years as the Crook County Library director, Dave Patterson will be moving on to a new job.
Patterson recently resigned as library director effective April 15. He will be taking a job on the faculty of the Institute of Lutheran Theology in Brookings, S.D. Once again he will be a library director, but Patterson said the work will differ from his job at the Crook County Library.
"Academic libraries are dramatically different than public libraries," he said. Patterson went on to point out that the goal of an academic library centers on supporting the scholastic goals of students as well as the research advancement of the school.
Patterson wasn't necessarily looking for a new job or to move out of Prineville. Instead, he was looking for a way to continue his education.
"I will be completing my own seminary education," he said. "It will be a Masters (degree) in divinity."
Patterson went on to explain that the Institute of Lutheran Theology provided distance learning, something he likened to earning an Oregon State University degree from Central Oregon Community College.
While he was in contact with the school, he shared that he had experience in administering distance learning programs and libraries as well as experience overseeing theological libraries.
"They got interested in my background and they flew me out there," Patterson said.
At his new job, Patterson he said he will be building their library and its services from the ground up. "It's a once-in-a-career opportunity for me."
While he is excited for the next phase of his career, Patterson leaves behind a community and library he has grown fond of during the past two years.
"I've grown to love the people in the community, the library and its staff," Patterson said. "For my wife and I, Oregon is just home. I'm going to miss the rugged beauty here."
During Patterson's tenure, the library has undergone some major changes.
"The biggest project was the migration to the new library catalogue system," he said. According to Patterson, the library went from a catalogue system, which was designed for an elementary school library, to a state-of-the-art system on par with what other libraries across the country are using. The library has also added a new teen room and expanded the library's online resources to include downloadable audio books, video, and online references and tutoring services.
These large-scale changes are what Patterson considers his strong suit and was likely why he was brought in as the Crook County Library director. However, he feels that the community has seen enough changes in the library for the time being.
"Any community has a defined threshold of change," Patterson stated. "You reach a point where any additional changes moves past a community's comfort level."
Crook County Judge Mike McCabe echoed that belief.
"We've had some issues with the new book checkout and new computer system," McCabe said, "and we haven't worked all the bugs out. People are still adjusting to that." He went on to state that the currently struggling economy has a part in slowing down major upgrades. "If we were awash in money we might be adding new things. It's always nice to do more."
McCabe, along with the remaining members of the Crook County Court are responsible for appointing a new library director to replace Patterson.
"We've posted for that job on a couple of electronic media," McCabe said. "They have to have some kind of library science degree and many years of experience.
So far there are not any applicants that McCabe is aware of and an interim director has not yet been chosen by the board of trustees. As far as the timeline for a new director, McCabe is hoping to not wait long for a replacement.
"I'm hoping by the first of June or first of July," he said.
