LIVINGSTON, La. — Following the sudden announcement of former Library Director Na'Chel Shannon's resignation, the Library Board of Control met March 17 and entered into two separate executive sessions to discuss the resignation and who would be appointed in the interim.
Before moving to Louisiana, Shannon had served as the library director for the South Mississippi Regional Library in Columbia, Mississippi. She joined the Livingston Parish Library in January after the board declined to renew the contract of previous Library Director Michelle Parrish. Parish's predecessor, Giovanni Tairov, had also resigned following a series of tense and lengthy debates over what materials within the library can be accessed by minors.
After only two months on the job, Shannon's resignation signals the continuation and probable escalation of a worrying pattern.
Before the board entered executive session, Rebecca Roberts approached the podium to address Shannon's resignation. While Roberts was "one that spoke out" against Shannon's appointment initially, she "still wanted to give her a chance" to prove her capabilities in the position.
With this resignation, however, Roberts said she had questions for the board. She asked whether Shannon was "given the opportunity, the skills, the tools, the resources that were needed for her to be successful" and wondered whether she was asked to resign or "was she just kind of pushed aside?"
"Was everybody in agreement of this?" Roberts continued. "Was she given a two-week notice? ... Was there a private meeting? Was there a quorum? Did the board operate in the guidelines within the bylaws?"
"I just think we need answers, and I hope she was given the opportunity," Roberts added.
After posing her questions, Roberts opened the floor for board members to respond and shed light on the situation for the public.
All eight board members remained completely silent even after Roberts left the podium.
The board then entered executive session to discuss the "character and professional competence of Na'Chel Shannon," according to the agenda. The session, which accounted for a significant portion of the meeting's time, ended with six board members voting to accept Shannon's resignation. Board members Trey Cowell and Kristan Whann abstained.
The board then entered a second, longer executive session to discuss potential interim director candidates, the length of the interim appointment, and the character and professional competence of Scott Kleinpeter, the only candidate listed on the agenda.
When board members returned, board member Rodlyn Hammond moved to appoint Kleinpeter as interim director for an undisclosed period of time.
Kathleen Hyde approached the podium immediately after and asked for an "introduction ... and some information about Mr. Kleinpeter's qualifications, service, et cetera" for the public.
Kleinpeter then addressed the board, noting he had worked for the parish library system for about 11 years before leaving and returning in 2017. He has served as branch manager for the Denham Springs-Walker branch and the main branch, and was involved in creating the Digital Media Lab, a project he described as "very close to my heart."
Kleinpeter holds a Master of Library and Information Science from LSU with a specialization in knowledge management.
The motion to appoint Kleinpeter as interim director passed unanimously. The board also unanimously approved motions allowing Kleinpeter to serve as bank designee with Hancock Whitney Bank and treasury manager for the library, and authorized him to handle bidding for a replacement chiller, an industrial air conditioning component, at the Watson library branch.
