The Dolores Public Library Board of Trustees has hired Debra Ely, currently of St. Ignace, Mich., to be the new director for the Dolores Public Library.
Ely will begin work on Nov. 1, and will begin training under Carole Arnold, the director for the past 30 years. Arnold will be retiring Dec. 31.
Ely has three daughters -Ashlee 27, Heather 24, and Amber 21. She also has one grandson, Ayden, who is 5. They all live in Marquette, Mich. Her daughters are all studying at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, and Ayden just started kindergarten.
Ely has been the library director at the St. Ignace Public Library since 2012. She was the library media specialist for the Ironwood School District from 2010 to 2011. She also was the assistant librarian and the children's librarian at Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library from 2003 to 2010.
Ely graduated from Northern Michigan University in Marquette in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She will complete her master's in library science through the University Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2014.
In a news release, the Board of Trustees said, Ely's experience, knowledge, and passion for literacy and library services will continue the tradition of a strong public library in Dolores as established by Carole Arnold and supported by the other staff members and patrons.
Ely says "It's been my dream for many years to move to Colorado, and I'm excited to be moving to Dolores and being a part of the community."