UPDATED: Hendrix no longer library director for Santa Rosa County

The removal of Linda Hendrix as library services director for Santa Rosa County has nothing to do with the desecrated Navarre Library plants.

“The objective with this transition is to improve our community outreach within our libraries,” said Hunter Walker, county administrator.

On July 18, Gwen Wilson became the county’s new interim Library Services Director.

“DeVann Cook, the human resources director - who also oversees library services - and I notified Ms. Hendrix of the change on July 14,” Walker said. “She is currently on administrative leave as we look at how she can participate in the transition. We are currently working on the specific details and expect a decision next week.”

On June 18, Navarre Library patrons awoke to a startling discovery: The lush vegetation surrounding the building had been callously dug up; the clippings of which were dragged and dumped in the rear of the building.

The plantings were placed by the Navarre Garden Club, funded entirely by donations from the community and the Friends of the Navarre Library.

Earlier this week, members of the two non-profit groups were scheduled to meet with Walker regarding the replacement of the plants.

However, Ginger Eisele, president of the garden club, said it wouldn’t be wise to plant anything in the summer heat and will therefore, wait until fall.

“In order to continue to be effective in servicing our residents, our library system now needs to move into a new phase of operations, one that allows our individual libraries the flexibility to better meet the needs our many different communities,” Walker said about Hendrix. “I feel that in order to reach this objective, a transition in management style was needed.”

For more on this story, see the July 21 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.