THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - The public library in Fort Smith has a new person at the helm.

Sheila Sauteur-Chadwick: says she is excited to be the new head librarian at Fort Smith's Mary Kaeser Library. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Sheila Sauteur-Chadwick assumed the post of head librarian at Mary Kaeser Library on July 24.

"I'm really excited about it," she said of her new job. "It's a totally new opportunity for me."

Sauteur-Chadwick plans to work closely with the library board on any possible changes to Mary Kaeser Library.

She replaces Jeri Miltenberger, who retired earlier this year as the longest-serving public librarian in the Northwest Territories.

She had been head librarian at Mary Kaeser Library for 23 years.

Sauteur-Chadwick is not sure if she will be at the library as long as Miltenberger.

"I don't know if I will do 23 years, but I could see 10 years," she said.

Sauteur-Chadwick has lived in Fort Smith for eight years, and has had a number of jobs – child protection worker, counsellor, therapist, foster parent and instructor at Aurora College.

This summer, she was the manager of the Taiga Adventure Camp for girls.