New Washougal library branch manager is named

A former circulation supervisor at the Washougal Community Library will soon return to work at that location, as its new branch manager. Rachael Ries has been selected to succeed Christine Hughey. Ries, 36, will begin her new duties Wednesday, Dec. 16. She has worked as a reference librarian for the Vancouver Community Library since March. Ries, a former Washougal resident for six years, worked at the Washougal branch from January 2014 through February 2015. "The library there has a great staff, and I'm looking forward to working with them again," she said. "I'm especially excited to start planning outreach and programs for 2016." The Washougal Community Library staff includes Supervisor Rachel Nutter, full-time Public Service Assistant Ed Miller and part time Senior Public Service Assistant Virginia Villarreal. Ries is planning to meet with the Friends of the Washougal Community Library and talk with them about their fundraising goals and plans for 2016. "They have some book sales scheduled already, and I want to look at creative ways to really get the word out in the community," she said. "There are some people who don't know we are trying to build a new library. If we do our job well, every Washougal resident will know and be supportive of our efforts. "I think the community is ready for a larger library, and I think it's necessary," Ries added. "We just don't have enough space in our current location to fully meet the needs of our patrons. We need more computers and separate areas of the library for teens, children and adults. We also need meeting rooms for patrons and for the library to use for events and programs." Ries earned a bachelor's degree in sociology, with a minor in environmental studies, from Western Washington University, in Bellingham, Washington, in 2002. While attending the University of Washington, she spent two years as a volunteer with AmeriCorps, tutoring children in reading and running an after school program focused on literacy and art, at Carson Elementary School. Ries earned a master's degree in library and information science in 2011. While in school, she did some directed field work at the Stevenson branch. In 2012, Ries was hired as a library assistant for the Vancouver branch. After four months, she was promoted to circulation supervisor for Vancouver. Ries grew up in Montana and moved to Washington in 1998, to attend WWU.Hughey, 63, retired Oct. 10, after serving as the branch manager for four years. The Washougal Community Library is located at 1661 "C" St. For more information, call 906-4860 or visit www.fvrl.org.

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