Former Henika District Library employee Christina Golm has been hired as new director of the Patmos Library near Hudsonville, though she has indicated she wants to continue as director of the Newaygo Library.

Golm, who was hired almost a year ago for the job in Newaygo, said she wants to commute the 44 miles miles between the two libraries. She is supposed to begin at Patmos next week.

She likely is getting plenty of resistance to the idea because of the controversy surrounding her firing last October of longtime Newaygo Distrrict Library employee Georgia Kohlbeck after accusing her of stealing books. The Newaygo County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing Golm’s charges against Kohlbeck.

The firing prompted calls in the community last fall for Golm to be ousted, asserting that since her arrival the library has been transformed into a hostile work environment. Some employees have said employees have left as a result.

Golm was coordinator of projects, technology and community outreach at the Henika District Library. She earned her master of library science degree at Wayne State University and joined the Henika staff in April 2011. She has been awarded an Accessible Libraries For All (ALFA) Fellowship and is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.