Marion Carnegie Library set to reopen as director retires

MARION - Marion Carnegie Library Director David Patton is set to retire on June 30, as accepted by the Marion City Council on Monday night.

The move came as a surprise, Mayor Mike Absher said, noting that with the library closed under shelter-in-place orders due to COVID-19, library employees had been furloughed. "I guess he liked staying at home," Absher said of Patton.

While the library board searches for a new director, the City Council also approved the interim appointment of Sarah Watkins and Katie Stotlar as joint directors. They will have a 20-percent pay increase, which will expire once the new director is in place.

"We have two very good employees who are very capable of running the library," Absher said. "In the interim, we're basically not going to pay 60 percent of the library director's salary."

Meanwhile, the library is reopening under Phase IV of Illinois' plans to recover amid the COVID-19 virus. Absher noted the rules mean that no more than 50 people can be in the building. "So if you see a bunch of kids reading books in the center of the Square or at a picnic table, that's what that's about."

Still to come is news about the reopening of The HUB Recreation Center.

"The HUB still has some limitations, but I think we'll be able to accommodate everyone," Absher said.

He also credited the Marion Cultural and Civic Center for its work in keeping the community engaged, with such activities as sidewalk art.

Still to come are reopening plans for The Pavilion and Boynton Street Community Center.

Absher said he wanted to move with caution on reopening the Marion Senior Center, which has switched from on-site meals to home delivery. In that mode, Absher said the Senior Center has actually been serving more meals than it did before.