The Jefferson County Library system soon will have a new leader.
Pam Klipsch, the director of the Jefferson County Library, which has three branches, is retiring at the end of March, after more than 16 years in the job.
Tony Benningfield, who worked six years as the De Soto Public Library director, has been hired to take over the position and is working under Klipsch right now to learn his new duties.
“There will be a three-month period where I will be showing him the ropes and he will be getting to know the responsibilities before I officially retire,” Klipsch said. “I informed the (Library Board of Trustees) of my intention to retire a year and a half ago while we did a search and an orderly transition.”
Benningfield, 38, of De Soto started his new job with the Jefferson County Library on Jan. 4. He calls himself “director in waiting.”
A spokesperson for the De Soto Public Library said applications for its vacant director position are being accepted through Feb. 1.
The Jefferson County library system’s three branches include the Arnold Branch, the Windsor Branch in Barnhart and the Northwest Branch in High Ridge, which also houses the administration staff.
The board chose Benningfield out of seven applicants.
He will be paid a $65,000 annual salary, a $12,000 increase over the $53,000 salary he was making at the De Soto Public Library.
Klipsch currently makes $108,608 a year.
Retta Tuggle, president of the Jefferson County Library Board, said the board members were impressed with Benningfield’s age and enthusiasm, as well as other qualities.
“Tony is very energetic and full of ideas,” Tuggle said. “We are looking forward to working with Tony for many years. He came on board and hit the ground running.”
Benningfield ready
for challenge
Before Benningfield joined the
De Soto Public Library, he spent three years at the Jefferson College main campus library in Hillsboro, where he eventually worked as its computer assistant.
He earned an associate degree in history from Jefferson College and a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
“I’m due to obtain a master’s in library and information science from the University of North Texas in May,” he said.
Benningfield said he was thrilled to be named the county library’s new director.
“I’ve always been interested in running a library system,” said Benningfield. “I am really excited and envision myself being here a very long time.”
Benningfield said he wants to continue to offer patrons a wide variety of reading materials and services.
“As far as technology, I think anybody interested in information should be able to get it in whatever form they want,” he said. “What I’d like is to get settled in here, assess the current direction and either fine tune it or change it.”
Benningfield and his wife, Affton, 37, have two sons: Jaxon, 12, and Deckland, 4.
Klipsch retires after decades
in library work
Klipsch, 70, of Kirkwood has worked in libraries much of her adult life.
“When I retire, I will have been here for 16 years and one month (all as director),” she said. “I started Feb. 1, 2005. I had been assistant director of the Kirkwood Public Library for about four and a half years when I went to work here. I thought it would be my last job. Prior to that, I was youth services librarian in Alton (Ill.) – Hayner Public Library – for 15 years.”
Klipsch said she is proud of her time as director of the Jefferson County Library. “We’ve accomplished a lot, I think, in the last 16 years,” she said. “I think the library has a great future.”
Klipsch said one of the important improvements to the county library system during her tenure as director was joining the Missouri Evergreen library cooperative in 2019.
“When I came here, we were a stand-alone library district,” she said. “We are now a part of the Missouri Evergreen consortium that includes over 50 libraries across the state. We now have access to several million books.
“If you look at the consortium as a single system, we are now the largest library system in the state of Missouri in terms of the number of resources we provide and the number of people we serve in the consortium. That’s one of the accomplishments I’m most proud of.”
Klipsch said providing library services during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most challenging time during her career.
“Of course, the pandemic has thrown a monkey wrench into many things,” she said. “We’re only doing curbside service now. I know that all of the staff is looking forward to the day we reopen our buildings and get back to working with the people who really need us and we really enjoy.”
Klipsch said she believes the Jefferson County Library is on solid ground as she prepares to exit.
“I have tried really hard to leave the library in good shape – well-staffed, financially sound and with the resources to provide the community with everything it expects in a library,” she said.
Klipsch said as much as she has appreciated her career, she feels it is time to retire and bring in new leadership.
“You need fresh blood,” she said. “You need somebody who is young and has more energy and lots of new great ideas.”
Klipsch said she is looking forward to the luxury of sleeping in some mornings. However, she plans to stay busy during retirement.
“I’m hoping, maybe, to volunteer with youth, such as with a reading program,” she said.
Tuggle said the board appreciates Klipsch’s work at the Jefferson County Library.
“We want to thank Pam for her years of dedicated service to the library and the community,” she said. “She has done well. The board wishes Pam a wonderful retirement.”