The Natrona County Library Board of Trustees has narrowed to three the finalists for the director position, according to a news release.

They will speak about the importance of libraries and answer questions at a public forum in the Crawford Room at the library, 307 E. Second St., at 6 p.m. Monday.

The new director will replace Bill Nelson, who retired in September.

The finalists are:

Jason Jackson, who was most recently the special projects officer for the University Libraries at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. He was in charge of physical space and movable equipment management for six years. Jackson served as the owner representative in construction and site improvements projects including two major library renovations, the Center for Digital Scholarship, and the Howe Center for Writing Excellence. Jackson worked with librarians who were displaced after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He also has media experience as a sports director and news director. He earned a master's in library science at Louisiana State University and a bachelor's degree in journalism at California Polytechnic State University.

Kate Mutch is the public services librarian at the Natrona County Public Library, and manages and directs its day-to-day operations. She has been serving as interim director since Nelson's retirement. Mutch is on the Wyoming Library Association Legislative Committee, participated in Leadership Casper, and is active in the local Kiwanis Club. Her 18 years of experience also includes being a library director, and serving as a mentor and coach to potential new librarians. In 2005, the WLA selected Mutch as Wyoming Librarian of the Year. She earned her master's degree in library science and bachelor's degree in integrated studies from Emporia (Kan.) State University.

Paul Paladino is currently the director of the Montrose, Colo., Regional Library District. During his 23 years of experience as a director, he successfully encouraged the passage of a levy increase in 2004, and created the first Capital Facilities District in Colorado to fund a new branch library. The library district was a medal winner of the Institute for Museum and Library Services in 2012,  and won the 2014 Colorado Association of Libraries Project of the Year by delivering a library card to all first graders in the district. Paladino also has new library construction experience. He earned his master’s degree in library science from Indiana University and his bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of Dayton.

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