Flathead County Library Director Teri Dugan will retire at the end of her contract, which was extended through 2028 by trustees on Thursday.  

Dugan confirmed her retirement plans to the Inter Lake via email Friday morning. Her last day is Sept. 29, 2028.  

Dugan’s contract was set to expire next March before trustees extended it. 

“I’m thankful to the [Flathead County Library] Board of Trustees for their continued confidence and for the chance to keep serving our community,” Dugan said. “I’m very proud of the work our staff has done together and look forward to continuing to strengthen library services, programs and partnerships that support the citizens of Flathead County.” 

Dugan has been with the Flathead County Library System, formerly ImagineIF, for 15 years. She worked as an office administrator before she took over as interim library director in October 2023. She was appointed library director in March 2025. 

David Ingram, chair of the Board of Trustees, said the board was aware of Dugan’s retirement plans.  

“She had made that known,” Ingram said. “We’d like to keep her as long as we can, but that’s just the reality.” 

TRUSTEES ADOPTED a new patron conduct policy during their March 26 meeting that bans patrons from viewing pornographic material on library premises.  

Mellissa Wood, a representative of Friends of Flathead Library who spoke as a private citizen, reported seeing a patron reading pornographic material at one of the library’s branches.  

Librarians should be able to ask patrons to either put the material away or leave if they find the conduct inappropriate, Wood said.  

Trustees unanimously adopted the new policy but did not define what classifies as “pornographic material.” Ingram told the Inter Lake it’s a difficult term to define. The board aims to make the library’s patron conduct policy congruent with other policies that ban obscene acts.  

The library’s policy on weapons was also updated to allow concealed carry without a permit. The modified language prohibits the open carry of a firearm on library premises.  

The modification was proposed by Ingram, who wanted to stay in line with Montana statute. Anyone who is at least 18 years old and eligible to own a firearm under state and federal law is allowed to conceal carry without a permit in most public places in Montana.   

THE FLATHEAD Library will discontinue book delivery services to the Marion School Library on July 1, after trustees voted to end its agreement with the school.  

“I’m not happy about taking away that service,” Dugan said. “But in the use of taxpayer money, I’m not sure it’s the best use of our time.” 

The county library system spent $900 annually on courier services to run the program, Dugan said. Meanwhile, an average of two to three patrons used the book delivery service every month.   

Trustees said they’re open to continuing the program if they can find a volunteer to deliver books to Marion or find new funding for it. The Marion School Board will be informed of the trustees' decision by April 1.  

Report for America reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at (406) 758-4439 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.