Resignations spur search for new Nampa library director, board member

Chris Cooper, director of the Nampa Public Library for the past two years, resigned Friday for family and personal reasons, the Nampa Library Board of Trustees announced Saturday.

The resignation was effective as of Friday’s board meeting, according to a city news release.

And on the same day, library board member Phil Bence resigned a few months prior to the end of his term, saying he wanted to make it possible for a new board member to participate in the search for a new library director.

Cooper and his family plan to return to California for family reasons, according to the news release. The library’s assistant director, Claire Connley, was named interim director.

“Chris worked hard and was an active advocate for the library in our community,” board Chairman Nick Smith said of Cooper. “He was willing to perform any and every task needed for good of the library and its customers, and for the good of Nampa's people.”

The library board and the city human resources department are launching a search for a new director to helm the library, which moved into its new quarters downtown two years ago.

To fill Bence’s board seat, Nampa Bob Henry plans to review the applications he received in December 2015 when then-board member Sandi Levi transitioned to the Nampa City Council member. Henry said there were several good candidates in that pool, and he hopes one of them can fill Bence’s seat and help in the search for a new library director. Once Henry selects a candidate for the board, the City Council will be asked to approve the appointment.

This story was originally published June 11, 2017 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Resignations spur search for new Nampa library director, board member."