Kalona Library director to resign

KALONA — Kalona Public Library Director Trevor Sherping will leave the job at the end of March, after the library board accepted his letter of resignation earlier this month, in which he said he planned to become a stay-at-home parent shortly after he and his wife expect their first child.

In his four years on the job, Sherping oversaw the institution through no small number of tumultuous times.

The library closed its doors to the public for months starting in March of 2020, early in the COVID-19 pandemic and during Sherping’s first week as its chief executive, a jarring change that led to overhauls of virtually every programming and outreach effort. The institution implemented a no-late-fees policy last summer under his guidance, making it the 16th public library to do so in the state. Earlier this year, it faced a divisive debate over certain library materials that some patrons called “pornographic.”

Sherping oversaw a number of lower-profile changes as well, like the end of interlibrary loan fees, and launch of “Tech Help Thursdays.”

“There are a lot of things I’m very proud of our staff for accomplishing,” he said. “We’ve tried really hard to make it as easy for people to use the library as possible, and have access to as many materials as they can.”

As he prepares to part ways with the city service, Sherping added that he was grateful for the community’s trust and support.

He’s also humbled to hear people call the library a “more welcoming space” than ever before, one of the biggest long-term goals of his when he took the job.

“One of the (things) I’ve been concerned about is … trying to get away from a stereotypical, ‘shushing’ library,” Sherping said. “The library is really the last free community space where you can come in and there’s no obligation to purchase or do anything, you can just come, and be as you are. So I’m happy to let kids run around and be themselves and make a little bit of noise as long as they’re not disturbing people.”

The director called his upcoming departure “bittersweet,” given the good news of his growing family, against the tough goodbye of leaving the library.

“It’s something I’ve been looking forward to for years, being a stay-home dad, but I am sad,” he said. “It is the only job I’ve had that I’ve enjoyed every day of it … it was a little hard to submit the resignation, thinking about leaving that behind.”

City and library officials plan to have a new hire lined up some time in February. The job opening posted on the library website closes Jan. 5, and says the salary will be “dependent on education and experience.” Sherping’s wage after four years, for reference, is $25.46 per hour.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com