New Librarian, Mental Health Director Appointed in Merced County

With a unanimous vote, Merced County officials have added two new leaders to the ranks. The Board of Supervisors confirmed appointments for a new county librarian, as well as a new county mental health director, on Tuesday.

Yvonnia Brown will assume the mental health director position on August 4, but her appointment still needs to be approved by the state Department of Health Care Services. Brown is replacing Manuel Jimenez, who retired in September 2013 after four years on the job.

Former Modesto Library manager Amy Taylor will replace outgoing county librarian Diane Satchwell on August 11. Satchwell, who announced her departure in February, is now working as the executive director for the Southern California Library Cooperative.

“I think all the different aspects I’ve worked in gives me a broader understanding of how the system will work as a whole,” Taylor said. “The more familiar you are with how the system works, the better you can deal with issues that come up.”

As the county’s librarian, Taylor will have to contend with a loss of $950,000 in funding from the county’s dissolved Redevelopment Agency. That loss contributed to the closure of four branches in April.

Read more about Merced’s new county librarian and mental health director here.