Nichols named EBCL library director

SANDPOINT — The East Bonner County Library District cast a wide net in its search for a new library director, but ultimately decided to promote from within.

Ann Nichols has been named director of the Sandpoint and Clark Fork libraries, district officials have announced. Nichols has been serving as interim director since the retirement of Wayne Gunter last year.

“The board’s decision to promote Ann Nichols was the result of an intensive national search by a committee of dedicated library staff members,” said board of trustees Chairman Shannon May. “Some highly qualified candidates were among the finalists. We found Ann to be the best of an impressive group.”

Nichols joined the library district in 2005 as an administrative librarian and assistant director. She has also holed key positions with the Idaho Falls Public Library and the Idaho National Laboratory’s technical library in Idaho Falls.

The newly-named director holds a bachelor of science degree in biology from the College of Idaho and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Boise State University. She also has a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois and completed a year-long “Women in Science” program, a master’s-level physics program at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

Library board Trustee Marilyn Wudarcki said she and here colleagues are pleased with Nichols’ promotion.

“Ann has the leadership skills, creativity and personal qualities to lead our library,” Wudarcki said.

Nichols served two terms as public library division chair for the Idaho Library Association, and on the association’s statewide conference planning committee. Since joining the library district, she has been an active participant in the local Friends of the Library organization, which holds book sales and raises funds for the library.

Nichols is also a member of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.