Patty Hector Hired as New Director
After a comprehensive nation-wide search, the Saline County Library Board has announced Patricia Hector as the new Saline County Library Director.
Originally from Texas, Hector has extensive library administrative experience gained while working in Arkansas and other states. She has recently worked with the Califa Library Group in San Mateo, CA on a $2.9 million National Science Foundation-funded grant to bring STEM-based programming to rural libraries.
“We are excited to have someone with such an abundance of library leadership and administrative experience to be joining us in our efforts to serve the community of Saline County as best we can,” Saline County Library Assistant Director Jill Martin said. “She has an extensive background in working a number of different projects related to library growth and development. We look forward to seeing her experiences and practices grow our library system.”
Before moving to California, Hector managed three branches and five departments of the Fort Smith Public Library as the Assistant Director for 15 years. There, she developed adult programs, coordinated building projects, and served as an active volunteer and board member for several community organizations.
After leaving Arkansas in 2003, Hector obtained the position of Library Director of the Del Norte County Library District in Crescent City, CA where her efforts expanding library-based literacy programs for adults and children resulted in the Del Norte County Library being chosen as one of five libraries to receive the Prime Time Family Reading Time grant.
In 2006, Hector joined a cooperative library system serving 55 libraries in 28 counties as the Assistant System Director of the NorthNet Library System in Santa Rosa, CA. She served as the Interim Library Director for the Napa City-County Library and assisted in the consolidation of three cooperative library systems into one system to improve workflow.
The Sonoma County Library hired Hector in 2011 as the Central Branch Manager in Santa Rosa, CA. She developed a monthly Maker program for adults and teens to express creativity and learn new skills. In 2014, Hector moved back to Arkansas.
“I am excited to be working back in Arkansas. There is something about the Natural State that you just can’t find anywhere else,” Hector said. “I look forward to building community relationships and partnerships as well as serving the citizens of Saline County.”
One of the priorities for Hector as Director is to reach out to the outermost towns and cities in Saline County like East End, Traskwood, Hot Springs Village and Paron. She currently resided in Hot Springs Village. A reception will be held in Patricia’s honor on July 26th at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.