Crook County Library Director resigns abruptly amid vision disagreement

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (Prineville Review) -- In a surprise move, Sarah Beeler, director of Crook County’s library system, has tendered her resignation, citing a fundamental misalignment between her vision for the library services and that of county leadership, according to reporting by our media partners at the Prineville Review.

Beeler described her role as her "favorite job ever" but revealed that differences in focus led to her decision to step down.

In her resignation letter, obtained exclusively by the Prineville Review, Beeler emphasized the need to develop library services that serve all county residents, especially those in rural areas outside Prineville. However, she said county commissioners directed her to concentrate efforts primarily on the Prineville library location.

The library system’s board of trustees expressed surprise upon learning of these concerns for the first time through media reports. Members also voiced frustrations over being excluded from staffing decisions and feeling disconnected from broader county community matters.

Efforts are ongoing to understand how these developments may affect residents, particularly those living in more remote parts of Crook County. The situation highlights broader debates around resource allocation and service priorities within the county’s public institutions.

The Prineville Review has more details and interviews, which you can read here.