After a search process and subsequent interviewing of some very fine applicants, the Library Board of Trustees chose Pamela Sue West-Finkle for the position of part-time library director, formerly held by Barbara Mellon. Pamela started her duties on Monday, August 8^th, and will be seen at the desk during open hours on Monday through Thursday. Gloria Carlson continues as a part-time staff member and is generally at the desk on Friday afternoons.

In addition to her administrative duties and love of books, Pamela brings a rich background in education and all-ages community programming to the library. She holds Professional New York State Teaching Certifications in both K-12 Music and 7-12 English, as well as a Masters of Music/Music Education and a Bachelor of Science in Education. She has spent over eight years teaching in public schools and has been a licensed Center Director for the international Music Together® Early Childhood music program for fifteen years.

For three decades, Pamela has also had her own professional music career as a multi-instrumentalist, composer, conductor, performing singer-songwriter, award-winning recording artist, and producer. She is often seen performing with various Catskill mountain musicians, including her husband, Theodore Finkle, who is the great-grandson of Leland Titch, an Andes folk-singer featured in the Folk Songs of the Catskills book.

Since 2002, her organization, the Community Music and Arts Network (www.communitymusicnetwork.com), has developed and provided educational and therapeutic community arts programming for youths, adults, elderly, at-risk, and disabled populations in both rural and metropolitan areas.

Pamela’s vision to bring some of this programming to the Andes Library corresponds with the goals of the library board, which hopes that her background and talents will enable the library to offer musical programming for all ages.~