New Plymouth Library Director Will Hit the Books in October

It's official! Plymouth has a new library director. 

Carol Souchock has accepted the offer from the Plymouth District Library Board of Trustees and will replace retiring director Pat Thomas this fall.

Souchock will start her new position sometime in October. An exact date has not been set. 

Currently the Director of the Adrian Public Library, Souchock said she enticed to apply for the position.

"Professionally I consider this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said. "The library has a reputation for receiving strong community support and for having a outstanding staff, services and board. I consider Plymouth one of the top five libraries in the state. It is an honor to be selected."

Souchock said there were also personal reasons for her decision. 

"Plymouth has always been a community that has been special to me," she said. "As a child my family took Sunday drives to Plymouth (I grew up in Dearborn) and throughout my life I have enjoyed regular visits. Over the years I attended the Ice Festival, hot air balloon events, Art in the Park, had lunch at the Cozy Cafe, visited the Little Professor (now closed) book store and enjoyed the community. I have long been attracted by the cultural activities and the charm of the downtown."

Board of Trustees President Mike Pappas said the decision to hire Souchock over the other three candidates was almost unanimous and that she just came across best for the library's needs in the interview.

""It's (the library) a smooth running operation, so the wheel does not have to be reinvented," Pappas said. "We have an excellent staff. They just have to be maintained. We need to keep growing with innovations, whatever the latest and greatest thing out there is, we need to do it."

Pappas said Souchock's salary will begin at $82,000. He couldn't give an exact figure for Thomas' current salary, but said it was between $105,000 and $110,000.

Souchock has been a librarian since 1995. She holds a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in library science. Before becoming the director at the Adrian Public Library, she worked as the Adult Services Supervisor at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland, the Assistant Technology coordinator at the Southfield Public Library, a librarian at the Macomb County Library and a youth services librarian at the Troy Public Library, according to her resume.

"I was motivated to become a librarian because of my passion for the information field, technology, books and working with the public," Souchock said.

Souchock said she plans to relocate to Plymouth this fall, however she will be looking to rent a condo or house before purchasing in a few years.