TAYLOR – Theresa Powers, whose library services career started here 16 years ago, has been appointed director of the Taylor Community Library.
She had been director of the Lincoln Park Library and returns to succeed Linda Baum, who retired. It’s a familiar situation for Powers, as this marks the third assignment in which she has followed Baum.
From 1994 to 1999, Powers served as a library assistant in Taylor. After earning her master’s degree in library and information science at Wayne State University, she was appointed children’s librarian.
In 2000, Powers was appointed assistant director of the Trenton Library, succeeding Baum. In 2005, Powers was appointed director of the Lincoln Park Library, again succeeding Baum, who left Lincoln Park to come to Taylor.
“I’ve been following Linda’s footsteps my entire career, and you might say they are very large footsteps,” Powers said of her predecessor.
Taylor has a larger staff, provides more computers and is open more hours than the Lincoln Park Library, Powers said. Her first pressing need was to finalize the library budget. One of her challenges is to learn about Taylor’s library patrons, which will guide her in ordering books and other materials.
“It’s always a challenge learning the needs of the community,” Powers said. “Some communities place an emphasis on different things, whether it’s travel, home improvement, biographies or religion. Fiction is strong in every library.”
She also places an emphasis on customer service.
“Patron service takes precedence above anything else,” Powers said. “It’s important that patrons see a friendly face when they come in, and that they leave with what they came for, whether it’s a specific piece of information or entertainment.”