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New library director will continue predecessor’s solid ideals

Christopher Simmons

LEETONIA — The Leetonia Community Public Library may be changing directors, but the emphasis on the public will remain the same.

Christopher Simmons, a 2006 graduate of Crestview High School, is replacing Lisa Rohrbaugh as library director, but he promises to continue her dedication to the community and promoting the library.

“I definitely agree with [Rohrbaugh’s] emphasis on community,” he said. “As a public library, it is so important to know the library’s community and to know what it is that those users need, and to try our hardest to make it happen. I plan on taking that to heart. I grew up in the community, and I have staff who have worked and lived here for a number of years, some their entire lives.

“I want to use our collective knowledge and love of this community to get more people using the library, and to keep us at the center of the community for those people who have always loved and used this library.”

Holding a master’s degree in library science from Clarion University in Pennsylvania, Simmons has been a librarian since May 2013, serving at Cumberland County Public Library & Info Center in Cliffdale Branch, Fayetteville, N.C., and Marion Public Library, Marion in Marion, Ohio. He joined the Leetonia library in November.

“I jumped at the chance to apply for the position in Leetonia because I know it’s a beautiful building, a great staff, and a great community,” he said. “Growing up, I went to church at St. Paul’s in Leetonia, so I know a lot of the library users, and I volunteered at the library some while I was in college and high school since my sister (children’s librarian Lindsay Kuzemchak) was a librarian here.”

Having grown up in the area — his family owns Peace Valley Orchard between New Waterford and East Palestine — Simmons said he moved back to the area to be closer to family.

“And because I love this area,” he noted.

He said he had no idea Rohrbaugh would be retiring when he started in Leetonia, with no plan on becoming the director, but is “thrilled that things have worked out this way.”

Following in Rohrbaugh’s footsteps, Simmons said he is still surprised at the turn of events that have landed him in charge.

“Right now I’m still getting to know the job,” he said. “Lisa’s retirement was fairly sudden and I think the board and staff were all a little surprised it happened so quickly. Honestly, I am still a little surprised about being the director since I hadn’t expected any of it.”

But time does not stop for anyone, and Simmons recognizes the need to move forward.

“That being said, there are a lot of changes I want to try to make to make the library a more user-friendly place for our patrons,” he explained. “I also plan on making it a goal of mine to try to get more teens and children using the library. We need to help the younger generations become library users if we want stay relevant.”

Simmons’ initial contract runs through the end of the year, at which time the board will re-evaluate his status.

khowell@salemnews.net

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