POTSDAM -- The interim director at the Potsdam Public Library says the library's Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. March 23 to consider a budget referendum this year, and to discuss the search for a new permanent director.

The meeting is to be a preliminary exploration of the idea of a referendum.

Paul Schaffer, the interim director appointed to temporarily succeed late Director Pat Musante, said the board meeting will in part be to decide if a referendum in June will be required this year.

Schaffer, who retired in 2011 as director of the Massena Public Library after 27 years in that position, said that "after Pat passed away the board intended to appoint an interim director until a permanent director could be hired."

He expects the civil service selection process for a permanent director will take a few months. He estimates a director could be appointed to take the position in July. He said he is not applying for the permanent job.

Civil Service authorities in Canton will make a formal notice of intent to fill the position and "will set aside a couple of months to review applications and resumes." No application deadline has been set yet, Schaffer said.

After the qualified applicant list is made up, the library board can appoint someone from among the top three interested candidates on the list. If an applicant drops out, Schaffer said, the board can go down to the fourth on the list, and so on.

The civil service title for the job is Public Library Director I.