KAYSVILLE -- As the July 1 transfer of Kaysville City Library to a branch of the Davis County Library gets closer, staff members are taking positions near and far. That's because under the county merit system, employees of the Kaysville Library must meet certain requirements if they want jobs at the county. But one staff member has taken a job with the Utah State Library and moved hundreds of miles from Davis County. Chad Bartlett, who had been working full-time for Kaysville, accepted a bookmobile librarian position, says Kaysville Library Director Paul Stokes. "He took a position in San Juan County, based in Blanding," said Stokes, a former State Library employee himself.

"They were really pleased to get him. It's a nice full-time position with benefits. He's been there about a month," said Stokes, who worked 32 years for the State Library.

"We've got some good employees who have applied for library jobs. As the Centerville Branch library jobs opened up, that means we will be losing three of our employees," he said.

Nicole Carlson will be working as a reference librarian in Centerville, with that branch slated to open next month.

Erika Gomn will start at the Farmington Branch on Friday, while Jessica Johnsen, who is completing a college degree, will work at the North Branch Library, initially part-time. In the interim, she will continue to maintain the interlibrary loan program at Kaysville.

"We've taken some of our part-time help that wasn't working a lot of hours and put them on a lot more hours," Stokes said. "I did everything I possibly could to promote their skills and qualities," he said of "selling" his staff for library positions.

Training has been provided by the State Library in Salt Lake City as well as by Davis County Library.

"We knew this was going to happen. From here on, it's going to be a challenge to keep staff," Stokes said. "We've got to continue giving quality library service. Our challenge is to continue under somewhat adverse circumstances."

There was some controversy over county officials' stand that any city library employees would have to compete for jobs under the county's merit system, rather than have employment automatically transferred.

"Any position they (Kaysville employees) have, they have because they individually earned them," said Davis County Library Director Pete Giacoma. "It wasn't just to hire some Kaysville people. They applied, they competed, they won the positions. It's crucial that people understand that.

"That was our position all along," he continued. "It has to be a fair, competitive environment in which they are selected as the best candidate."

Close to 5,000 books in the collection have been weeded out, while 7,000 new ones have been added. The 5,000 books will be part of the spring book sale to be held in April, Stokes said.

With about 50,000 volumes, he called the collection "more viable then it's been for a long time. We don't want to transfer things over (to the county) that aren't being used. We're scrutinizing the collection.

"Some of the things they don't have we're keeping. We're keeping the best," he added.

It's been a challenge, been fun for me. I love libraries," said Stokes, who has his application in to be considered for a position once the library "changes hands" this summer.

"I think there's been an increase in people going over to the county (to borrow items), but it hasn't decreased our service," he added.

Kaysville residents have been able to borrow books from the county since the Kaysville City Council voted to join with the county system, last July.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com