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Library director retiring after 30 years of service

From staff reports

Published: June 21, 2009

After 30 years of service, Tom Dillard will retire from his position as director of the four-branch Cabarrus County Public Library system, effective July 30.

His replacement, Dana Eure, currently works as the assistant director of the Union County Public Library.

Dillard joined Cannon Memorial Library in downtown Concord in 1979 as a general service librarian. He was named director of the library in 1984.

Partnerships with the cities and Cabarrus County were formed when libraries were built in Kannapolis and Mount Pleasant, leading to the libraries eventual merger in 1998.

To improve efficiency, Cabarrus County took over sole responsibility for all library operations. Dillard now leads four library branches in Concord, Kannapolis, Mount Pleasant and Harrisburg. He also oversees the the library's bookmobile, which provides mobile library services to rural areas.

Technology has brought many changes to the library in the past 30 years. However, Dillard says, the Internet has made it possible to provide more information to the public at a lower cost.

The Cabarrus County Public Library offers research databases that make the library available from any computer if the user has a library card. These online subscription databases allow library card holders to access valid information from authoritative sources.

"Even with all the technology available to us, people still want to read books — especially genre fiction," Dillard says. "Plus, our libraries offer wonderful programs to encourage children to read and find pleasure and value in reading. That is one of the things that I have enjoyed most."

Dana Eure will become director of the Cabarrus County Public Library at a time when library usage is increasing due to the economy. Approximately, 486,000 people visited a branch of the Cabarrus County Public Library in the past year. More than 42,000 people attended one of the 958 programs or classes offered by the library. The Cabarrus County Public Library system has 285,000 items in its collection. Patrons checked out 810,000 last year.

Eure was recognized as a "mover and shaker" by the national "Library Journal" in 2006. She has played a key role in the planning and visioning of the Union County Public Library, where she has worked since 1997.

"She has done some innovative things at the Union County Public Library. I have always been very impressed with her," Dillard said of his replacement.

Eure earned her master's degree in library and information services from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She also holds a bachelors degree in anthropology from Appalachian State University. She is a Cabarrus County native and is married to Tom Eure. The couple has a son in sixth grade and a daughter in second grade.