The Great Falls Public Library board will be interviewing two finalists for library director on Nov. 13.

During their Oct. 28 meeting, Samantha DeForest said a board committee had reviewed applications and narrowed the pool to three candidates to be invited for in-person interviews.

One candidate dropped out, so the board will interview two candidates during a public meeting on Nov. 13 with the option for follow-up interviews on Nov. 14, when they’ll also discuss their compensation offer, likely in a closed session.

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The board is planning a meet and greet with the candidates following the initial interviews on Nov. 13 that will be open to the public.

DeForest said they’d worked with the city human resources department to develop a list of interview questions, which have to be the same for both candidates.

She said the initial questions provided by human resources were boilerplate so they made tweaks for library specific questions.

DeForest said it will be a “hard choice” between the two candidates, who are both from the midwest and have strong qualifications.

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The city is no longer accepting applications for the director position since final interviews have been scheduled.

Susie McIntyre, the current director, announced in July that she was resigning.

She’s stayed on to assist with the transition for the incoming director as requested by the library’s board of trustees, which began the search process over the summer with the assistance of the city’s human resources department.

McIntyre will continuing serving as director until the new director starts, whenever that may be, through Dec. 27.

Under the new management agreement with the city, the city manager no longer plays a role in hiring the library director, and that the library board will consult with city HR to advertise, interview and hire the new director.

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The library will maintain regular operations in the meantime.

“I appreciate the opportunity provided to me to lead this wonderful organization,” McIntyre said in a July release. “From purchasing the new Bookmobile to joining the Montana Shared Catalog to expanding library hours and programs, I’m so proud of all that we have accomplished together. I am confident that our excellent staff will take the library into a stronger future to meet the needs of Great Falls. The foundation we’ve built together positions the library well for continued growth and community impact.”

McIntyre was named library director in March 2019 after serving as interim director since January 2019, following the retirement of the previous director.

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At the time, the city received 11 applications, including McIntyre’s, for the director position, according to the city.

Before serving as the interim director, McIntyre had served as 10 years as the library’s head of information services and three years as the collection development librarian.

This December will mark 20 years working at the library for McIntyre, a Great Falls native who received her master’s in library science from the University of Washington in Seattle.

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Since being appointed, McIntyre lead the library through the COVID-19 pandemic, the passage of a charter amendment providing additional funding for the library, and a renegotiation of the management agreement with the city that included a reduction in city funding for the library.

The library also acquired a new Bookmobile, replaced a boiler, improved an air handling system, addressed basement flooding, eliminated late fines, joined the Montana Shared Catalog system, established partnerships with community organizations and expanded operating hours.

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In a release, Whitney Olson, library board chair, said, “we are incredibly proud of Susie’s work as our library director. Her vision and commitment have transformed our library into a stronger, more accessible resource for our community. The improvements she championed—from infrastructure upgrades to expanded services—will benefit Great Falls residents for years to come.”

McIntyre was named librarian of the year by the Montana Library Association in 2024, and the library board was honored that same year.

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She told The Electric in July that she didn’t have any concrete plans but “it is time for me to move on to new things.”

“I love Great Falls, I’m a Great Falls girl, I plan on staying here. I love the library and am grateful for all the people that help to make the library great,” McIntyre said, including staff, volunteers, board, patrons and the foundation. “The library is a really great part of my community.”

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Once the new director is hired, McIntyre said she intends to step away so that person “can shine and take over leadership in a way that they see fit,” though she hopes to keep her book club.

McIntyre told The Electric that she remembers growing up going to the Great Falls library, checking out books and when she started working there 20 years ago, “it was my dream job.”

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At the time, she didn’t see herself becoming director, but over time, she said she really loved the library and felt that she could serve in that way.

“I’m just so honored to have had that position,” McIntyre said, and that she’s committed to making it a smooth and successful transition. “Great days are coming for the library and for Great Falls.”