UPDATED: Timberland Regional Library Executive Director Cheryl Heywood resigns
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 25, 2026
The Timberland Regional Library Board of Trustees began Wednesday evening’s March business meeting by announcing the resignation of Executive Director Cheryl Heywood.
Heywood’s resignation comes as Timberland Regional Library (TRL) faces a $3.8 million budget shortfall, which has led to layoffs, voluntary and involuntary, of 61 frontline library employees, including library assistants, librarians and public services specialists. TRL Trustees have also voted to cut $2.3 million from the 2026 budget — $1.9 from books and materials, and to convert the Hoodsport, McCleary and Amanda Park branches to Expanded Access Hours (EAH) only, self-service [staffless] models.
According to TRL’s website, TRL is primarily funded through local property taxes, with additional support from timber revenues and other dedicated funds. TRL has been operating in the “red” since 2023. The deficit has grown from nearly $950,000 in 2023 to close to $1.5 million in 2024, just over $3 million in 2025, and a projected $3.8 million for 2026. TRL was $1.3 million in the “black” in 2022.
In a message from Heywood issued on Jan. 29, she wrote, “In the months ahead, our communities will begin to see the impacts of actions we must take to reduce expenditures, including an estimated $1.8 million reduction to the collections budget resulting in fewer new materials purchased, a drawing down of paid performers and presenters resulting in fewer library programs and a reduction to the amount of free printing offered to $20 per month effective March 1. Less-visible operational changes will include significant cutbacks to supplies and non-essential purchases, as well as limiting employee travel for conferences and training. Finally, we have implemented a hiring freeze, effective immediately, and have begun planning for staffing reductions to be effective as of May 1.”
Dustin Loup, the trustee who represents Grays Harbor County and made the motion at a Feb. 25 board meeting to “approve the implementation of a reduction in force as discussed for the purposes of ensuring financial stability for the remainder of the 2026 fiscal year and authorize the Executive Director to take all necessary action to implement the reduction in force in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and legal requirements,” spoke at the top of the meeting.
“I would make a motion that we add the acceptance of the resignation letter from our Executive Director Cheryl Heywood and add the release from duties for the remainder of her employment effective June 30 [to the agenda],” Loup said.
Prior to opening the public comment period, Loup set the stage.
“I’m going to start speaking directly to our staff, our patrons, and the community that we serve across this library district. This is a really painful and deeply frustrating time, and I know that it feels like you aren’t being listened to or heard. I understand why it feels that way, but I do want to say you are being heard. We are listening, reading, reflecting, and digesting everything that has been and continues to be shared with us,” Loup said. “We are working toward a path that is worthy of this institution and the people who depend on it. Over just the past few weeks and the past few months, I’ve seen a tremendous amount of passion, energy, and care for TRL, our local branches, and especially our frontline staff. This reflects how important these libraries are to the people who work in them, people who rely on them, and the communities that they anchor. And I also just want to say that I really do truly appreciate people who are taking the time to dig in, do the research, and put in data-driven resources and public comments.”
Public outcry — including the formation of a grassroots effort known as the Patron Coalition for Local Libraries, letters to the editors of various newspapers in the region, emotional pleas via email and during Board of Trustees meeting public comment periods and letters from former trustees — has led to Heywood’s resignation.
One of the major issues at hand is the salaries paid to TRL administration, including Heywood’s $206,788 salary for 2025, raises for top administrative staff, and the creation of new high paying positions while public-facing employees have lost their jobs.
The human resources administrator’s salary has increased from $98,828 in 2023 to $142,963 for 2026. TRL also added an employee experiences advisor position at an annual salary of $120,376 in 2025, with an increase to $127,335 in 2026. The administrative coordinator, whose position is listed under the executive director, made $89,554 in 2023, was re-titled as executive administrator in 2024 at $95,931, and was bumped to $115,718 in 2025 and $133,760 for 2026. Heywood’s salary increased from $155,000 in 2023 to $189,000 in 2024 and to $206,788 in 2025. A third position, special projects coordinator, was added to administration for 2026 at a salary of $105,847.
While many of the commenters expressed relief and a renewed optimism regarding Heywood’s resignation and TRL’s direction, others continued to call for salary reductions for top-tier administration, accountability for Trustees, an independent investigation or audit, and a pause on layoffs and library branch renovations.
Michael Rainey, the president and executive director of AFSCME Local 3758, the union that represents TRL employees, asked the trustees to review the pending layoffs and the application of the collective bargaining agreement between the union and TRL.
“The current financial crisis did not happen overnight, and it certainly did not arise because of frontline library workers. This situation is the direct result of management decisions, financial assumptions, and structural choices made over time. Now, 61 frontline workers are being forced to absorb the devastating consequences of decisions they did not make and could not influence. Accountability must be addressed. Transparency after the fact is important. Transparency alone does not fix how the organization got to this point, nor does it prevent similar failures in the future. The administration holds responsibility for day-to-day financial management and operational decisions. The Board of Trustees is responsible for governance and oversight and for ensuring that the information provided by the administration is timely, accurate, and complete,” Rainey said. “Currently, layoffs are being implemented, and while we disagree with this decision, we acknowledge that the ability to implement a reduction in force is a management right. However, the union formally disputes how the collective bargaining agreement is being applied. Specifically, we do not agree with management’s interpretation of Article 15 regarding the reduction in force.
“This misapplication of the collective bargaining agreement exemplifies how decisions by TRL management can lead to long-lasting negative impacts on the library system and the community we serve. It increases the likelihood of grievances, costly legal challenges, and delays. It creates severe instability for the staff and undermines confidence in leadership at a time when trust is already strained. We strongly urge the board to treat contract compliance as a critical governance issue rather than just a labor relations technicality. We ask you to examine whether management is truly complying with the collective bargaining agreement approved by this board and whether these cost-saving measures are simply creating new risks rather than resolving existing ones.”
Former longtime TRL employee and one of the founders of the Patron Coalition Rachelle Martin implored the Board to release a public statement about the system’s values and the Board’s commitment to them.
“It’s only getting hotter and hotter and hotter because everyone is finding out more and finding out how longstanding these issues are. … Can I trust the Board of Trustees or should we ask for their removal? I don’t even know what these people think anymore. Do you believe in the mission, the vision, and the values that you have as the Timberland Regional Library on your website. Do you believe in equitable access and intellectual freedom for all? We need to know as community members if we can trust you,” Martin said. “So please, easiest thing in the world, totally free, put out a statement that you believe in intellectual freedom and equitable access for all. That will speak volumes if you can actually show us what that means to you. … Show us who you are and what do you actually believe in. … The friends are all alienated. Patrons are alienated. What are you going to do as our leaders to show that you actually want to interact with us? Thank you so much for all of your hard work, all of you. And thank you, community members, for showing up. I thank you so much.”
Kylie McQuarrie, one of the more outspoken activists who has been vehemently calling for change, expressed her thoughts on what should come next in TRL administration.
“I know your only hire is the executive director, but I assume we are going to need an interim director in the meantime. I would like to state unequivocally that we cannot have anybody who was a part of this corrupt administration hold that position of power,” McQuarrie said. “We need an interim contractor who has levy lid lift experience, who has rural library experience, who has a firm commitment to listening to locals when they beg and plead with administrators not to remove their beloved local collections. We need someone who’s credentialed and experienced. Please find us someone who shares our community values, someone who follows ALA best practices, who can cultivate positive, healthy relationships with Friends of the Library, someone who listens to communities. … Please, restore the jobs of all the workers who were involuntarily laid off. Please do not cut hours. And please, in the future, take the time to listen when people like me send you anonymous letters saying, ‘hey, I’m worried, I’ve heard that the staff is going to be laid off. I’ve heard that there’s a culture of retaliation and I’m upset about this upcoming solo staffing policy. Please don’t sign off on it.’ In the future, please listen to these complaints, take them seriously up front, and we will be excited to keep working together with you to raise a levy lid lift.”
Since the current budget crisis was announced, several public commenters have brought up campaigning for a levy lid lift initiative that could be taken to the voters in the five counties TRL serves. The Board of Trustees meeting’s business concluded with a discussion on the possibility of launching a levy lid lift campaign.
Near the end of the nearly four-hour meeting, Loup made the motion and the Trustees voted to accept Heywood’s resignation effective June 30, with Heywood immediately relinquishing her duties.
“I do want to acknowledge that Cheryl worked for Timberland for a long time. And I just want to acknowledge that service, decades of service, to us,” said Brian Mittge, Board of Trustees president. “We’re going to be moving forward to address the challenges facing TRL.”
As of Thursday morning, the links to the “Leadership” and “Media” pages at TRL.org had been removed from the website’s footer.
