Camarillo new Columbia Falls Library director
Liz Camarillo is the new Columbia Falls Library Director. (Chris Peterson photo)
By CHRIS PETERSON
Hungry Horse News
The Columbia Falls Imagine If Library has a new director. Liz Camarillo recently took over the position from director Tony Edmundson, who will be transitioning to a new role as Adult Services Librarian, based in Kalispell.
The multi-talented Camarillo has worked at the Columbia Falls branch since 2016, starting out as a courier while moving up the ranks in the library over the years. She transitioned to Library Advisor at both Kalispell and Columbia Falls locations in February of 2020.
She’s lived in the valley for 14 years and grew up in California and Arizona. She also has a background in bookkeeping, childcare and the culinary arts — she works with her family running the La Casita restaurants in West Glacier and Kalispell.
She said her vision for the Columbia Falls library goes beyond books.
“We want it to be a launchpad for success,” she said.
She also started a new feature on the library’s social media pages called History Fridays, which features a picture of a local historical person and a short biography.
In addition to about 15,000 titles, the library has Internet hot spots people can check out, iPads, computers, digital copies of books, a fax machine, printers and even a 3D printer.
“I see in her someone who will continue our partnerships, and seek out new ones. I trust her to uphold the values of our community library, to be a resource for our citizens, our families, and our children,” said Edmundson, who was librarian at the Columbia Falls branch for 6-1/2 years.
Camarillo’s favorite author?
It’s a complicated question.
“It’s whatever I’m navigating at the moment,” she said. Right now she’s enjoying books by Joanna Davidson Politano.
Edmundson said his new role with Imagine If will include working closely with schools, nonprofits and other civic organizations as well as staff training.