President, treasurer resign from South Cheatham County Friends of the Library

The president and treasurer of the South Cheatham County Friends of the Library (FOTL) have announced their resignation from the library support organization as of Nov. 7.

FOTL president Kandace Kapanka and treasurer Lana Foster, who have held their posts for the past two years, initially announced their departures Oct. 17 on the group's website.

These are the latest stirrings in a contentious year for the Kingston Springs facility, one that began with the sudden resignation of former director Sara Schultz in May, continued with the contested appointment of new director Jennifer Ensley in August and has been further complicated by the launch of plans for constructing a new multi-faceted library to replace the current log structure site on Main Street.

The three-month search for Schultz's successor ultimately netted five applications, including one from Foster who despite her involvement in library affairs was never interviewed and whose complaint about the process and the ultimate selection of Ensley led to a thorough but inconclusive investigation by county commissioner Mike Breedlove. Kapanka's husband, Jack Kapanka, former chair of the Cheatham County Library Board of Trustees and an advocate for a new library in Kingston Springs, was replaced in August. To date there has been no study or public outcry that establishes a need for a larger library.

In her letter of resignation from FOTL, Foster said on behalf of herself and Kapanka, “We feel that we have made a positive impact in our library and community by rebuilding the presence of the Friends of the Library in Kingston Springs. We developed social media and website presences, put in place regular meetings, developed best-practice accounting procedures, were open to input from the community, and supported the library staff and library events.”

Elsewhere she noted, “Kandace and I are proud of the work we did for the South Cheatham Friends. We are however disappointed in the support we have received from the county by way of the Library Board of Trustees and our partner Friends group. There has been a very evident lack of a presence by either in our Friends meetings.”

While Foster says she doesn't plan to continue as a member of the Friends group, she added, "I will help out if they have any questions about the treasurer role ... Corey [her husband and FOTL member] and I will continue to host the Friends website for now, but it will be up to the officers to update the minutes and other activities on the site if they wish to do so.”

Persons interested in applying for the vacated FOTL offices may do so at the Nov. 7 meeting at the Kingston Springs Library which starts at 6 p.m.