Riley Leaving as Mount Kisco Library Director
Mount Kisco Library Director Susan Riley, who oversaw the construction of a new library, is leaving her job later this month for the same post in Mamaroneck.
Riley, a Brewster resident who has lead the Mount Kisco Library for the past 10-plus years, will leave her current job on Jan. 15 and take her new position in Mamaroneck the next day. She has been a librarian for 22 years.
The construction of a new library, which opened in August 2009, was the key program during her tenure in Mount Kisco, Riley said. “That was my biggest goal,” she said. The public approved an $8 million, 20-year capital projects bond in 2006, for the $9.2 million project. She noted that the bond vote was held prior to the start of the recession. “We were very fortunate with the economic timing,” Riley said. There was $500,000 obtained via grants and the rest of the funding came from short term borrowing by the village board of trustees, Riley said. In addition the Library Foundation raised money for various projects in the new facility including book shelves in the children’s department, Riley said.
Riley said she was also proud of the increased usage of the library by the public. Since she began as library director, the Mount Kisco Library has seen it circulation of various materials increase by a total of 24 percent, she said.
Riley, who earned an annual salary of $87,000 in 20011, said on Dec. 28 that one of the reasons she was becoming the Mamaroneck Library director was a higher salary, which she declined to specify. Another factor in her decision to leave was that over 10 years in the same position “is long enough.”
Riley will be replaced on an interim basis by Mary Ayers, who head’s the library’s reference services department. The library’s board of trustees will select a permanent library director, who will meet the appropriate civil service requirements, including passing an examination, Riley said.
Riley said she will miss Mount Kisco. “I love the community,” she said.
