ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, February 4, 1997              TAG: 9702040084
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER

REGIONAL LIBRARY DIRECTOR RESIGNS

For the second time in four years, the board of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library is searching for a new director.

Karen Dillon, who headed the library system since May 1994, resigned Jan. 17.

Jim Johnson, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said Dillon resigned for personal reasons. He would not elaborate. Dillon could not be reached for comment Monday.

Dillon replaced Carol Veitch, who was fired by the board in 1993. Veitch had filed suit against the board, contending that she had been placed on probation and not allowed to file a grievance. She dropped the lawsuit six months later.

The Library Board never publicly disclosed the reasons for placingther Dillon's management style worked better with the board, Johnson said she "was a very sharp, forward-thinking librarian" and was "a different person" than Veitch.

Dillon led the three-library system through the lengthy expansion and renovation of the Blacksburg-area branch. She also oversaw the automation of the library's card catalog and checkout systems. Both initiatives were paid for in part by a November 1994 bond issue that county voters approved in 1993. Prior to coming to Montgomery County, Dillon had been an official with the state library in Richmond.

Johnson said Dillon's resignation was sudden. The board met several days after Dillon resigned, but has just begun talking about finding a replacement, he said.

He said it would likely set a goal of summer to find a replacement. For now, assistant director Jo Brown is serving as acting director.

The Library Board's next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Christiansburg headquarters library.

LENGTH: Short :   43 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  (headshot) Dillon. color.