The town of Freeport has hired its longest-tenured employee, Arlene Arris, as the new director of the Freeport Community Library.

Arris, who began working at the old Bartol Library in 1975, succeeds Beth Edmonds, who recently retired following 34 years in the two Freeport libraries.

The Town Council was set to approve Town Manager Peter Joseph’s recommendation for the library director’s position on Tuesday night. The meeting was held after the Tri-Town Weekly publication deadline.

Arris, 60, began as a clerk at the Bartol Library, then moved up to the position of assistant director/clerk. She has been interim director since Edmonds left on Feb. 5.

“I worked my way to full time when we moved into this building in 1997,” Arris said. “I’m very pleased with the promotion. I love working here, I love the staff, I love the patrons. The town of Freeport has been so supportive of this library, it’s a joy to be here. It’s very important to us.”

Joseph said that a salary for Arris had not been determined yet, but she will be paid slightly less than the $63,411.92 Edmonds was making.

Arris said her new position will require her to spend more time doing office work, scheduling staff and approving projects. She will oversee six full-time and at least five part-time employees.

“I’ll also have more responsibility for the building, and the grounds,” she said.

Arris said that working at the library all these years has been as much as she could ask.

“There’s not a lot of people who can get up in the morning and say, ‘I really enjoy my work,’” she said. “It’s because of the people I work with, and the people I wait on. It’s just fun. I get to learn what others learn.”

Joseph said that the library board of trustees and an interview panel consisting of department heads went through the selection process for a new director at Freeport Community Library.

“There were several other qualified internal candidates, as well,” he said. “Arlene and Beth worked very closely together. They have very similar management styles, and we saw that the library is functioning very, very well right now.”

Joseph said that when Edmonds, a former state legislator, had to go on leave, Arris would take over.

“She has been in charge of library operations whenever Beth has been gone,” he said. “She’s been a great employee.”

Arris, who grew up in Pownal, is a 1974 graduate of Freeport High School, and has lived in town since 1975. She and her husband, Leo, have two grown children and five grandchildren. Leo Arris’ brother, Lee, sits on the Town Council.

Arlene Arris is the new director of the Freeport Community Library.