S. Rock library director leaving after 14 years
The Slippery Rock Community Library was once about the size of a one-car garage, with about 6,000 books and other items to its name.
In 2018, the library moved into a new building that could house even more books as well as community activities and events.
The library's current director, Karen Pierce, had been working at the library for more than 10 years, and said the move to a new facility was reinvigorating.
“I remember walking in to the new library and just being, like, 'Wow,'” Pierce said. “It has been a labor of love, bringing the library to Slippery Rock.”
After working at the Slippery Rock library for 14 years, Pierce has taken a position as a branch manager at the Erie County Public Library System. Her last day at Slippery Rock's library will be Sept. 23.
In her time at the Slippery Rock library, Pierce has also become involved in the community, which she also said is a perk of the job.
In addition to recently organizing the first Butler County Bookfest, Pierce also helped start a community garden outside the library aimed at bringing more native pollinators to the area. She also helped install a “Peace Pole” outside the library, which was a project of the Slippery Rock Rotary Club, a group of which Pierce is also a part.“I am sad to be leaving both,” she said of the library and Rotary club. “This has been my baby.”Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo said he has known Pierce for at least 10 years. He said her impact on Slippery Rock extends outside her work in the library.“She has been such an asset to our town in so many ways,” Longo said. “She is always eager to volunteer her time and energy to anything that benefits the library and the community.”
According to Pierce, the library's board of directors will begin the process of selecting a new director. In the meantime, Tiffany Frampton, director of youth services at the library, will serve as interim director at the end of Pierce's tenure.Frampton has worked at the library for about two years, and has been involved in many of its activities and events.“Story time will always be my favorite thing we have,” Frampton said. “It's sad when the kids grow up and leave.”The library is having a send-off event for Pierce from noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 22 and from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 23.Pierce said her love for books and libraries is not leaving her as she moves on to a new job.“The library is more than just books,” Pierce said. “People can come for many different reasons.”
