Camas selects new library director

The City of Camas has hired its next library director.

Camas City Administrator Pete Capell confirmed this morning that Connie Urquhart, who currently works as the principal librarian for the Fresno County Public Library system in California, has accepted the job offer to oversee operations of the Camas Public Library.

Her first day will be Monday, July 25. In her new position, Urquhart will earn $7,250 per month, plus benefits.

Capell said Urquhart, who grew up in Bellingham, Washington, will bring with her experience in many different facets of library operations and oversight.

Her responsibilities have included overseeing teen programs and services to serving as a public information officer and marketing librarian.

“I think that in her 14 years at Fresno County, she had a broad range of experience,” Capell said. “Through her tenure there she has had many positions of responsibility that gave her a breadth of experience that will work well in a single library like ours, where [the director] has to wear a lot of hats.”

Urquhart was among four candidates who were asked to participate in an in-person interview process conducted on June 7. Background and reference checks were performed during the past several days. The city originally received 21 applications for the position.

“[Urquhart] is really enthusiastic and outgoing,” Capell said. “She appears to be an excellent manager who gets things done. She holds people accountable, and her staff really seem to like working for her. I think she will work well with Camas library staff and the community as a whole.”

The full-time director oversees the library’s programs, activities and operations, administers its policies and procedures, and leads approximately 14 employees. The department’s annual budget is $1.4 million.

Urquhart succeeds David Zavortink, who retired in October 2015 following a 20-year career at the Camas library.

Library staff and the city’s department heads were notified of Urquhart’s hiring this morning.