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Escambia Library Director Christal Bell-Rivera Submits Resignation
August 11, 2026
Escambia County Library Director Christal Bell-Rivera submitted her resignation on Monday without explanation.
Bell-Rivera’s last day on the job will be September 9.
In early March, the Escambia County Commission affirmed County Administrator Wes Moreno’s decision to hire Bell-Rivera as library services director, rejecting recommendations from the West Florida Library Board of Governance (BOG) that ranked two other candidates higher.
The administrator’s decision came under fire because Bell-Rivera did not meet minimum qualifications at the time because she lacked a master’s degree in library science. She has since received the degree.
She had been appointed interim director by Moreno after the retirement of Todd Humble in November 2025.
Comments
10 Responses to “Escambia Library Director Christal Bell-Rivera Submits Resignation”
Northerner, I lived, worked and loved the north end (Walnut Hill) for years of my life. Certainly glad we lived on the other side of the road!
Yo Northender!
I sit on a hiring committee which includes recruiting, interviewing, and hiring the right candidates for the job. Way too often I see people with college degrees that do not know squat about the specific job. Just because you have a “degree” does not make you qualified over anyone else unless you can prove your worth in a competitive interview. College degrees now are a scam! People buy degrees, not earn them.
Your analogy of comparing a nurse to a Doctor was absolutely stupid, feeble minded, buffoonery…
So why would anyone need a Master’s in Library Science? Sounds like some supervisor changed the job description to provide a postion for their buddy. You know, change the criteria to fit the person you want. Master’s degrees should not be a minimum qualification – how about experience and proven results as an alternative? Also, if she was in the library when I was younger, I know I would have been there more. LOL Just sayin!
This was an unfortunate situation that was also completely preventable by all parties involved. While there is no requirement to take the board’s recommendation, there is a requirement the candidate selected instead meets the minimum qualifications at the time of appointment to a position. A candidate not meeting minimum requirements should not apply. If one happens to apply, the candidate should be quickly notified he/she is unable to be considered at this time.
Fair hiring processes and transparency keep everyone honest.
Hmmmm….im a really nice person, everybody says so, but I’m not qualified to be a doctor but I’d like to be a doctor… but I’ve been a nurse and have experience working with doctors. Maybe I can get appointed by my friends as doctor and work until I get the rest of my education…..
Or, maybe they should just appoint an actual doctor that was recommended by the Doctors Governors Board that selects doctors with all the qualifications, education and experience needed.
Escambia County is run by 12 year olds.
Sorry you learned about the old school habits of people raised in Escambia County, the admin kissbutts and the hatred they can put on people that seem better than they are BECAUSE THEY ARE! God bless you, Christal. Those people that ran you off will have to go through the same thing one day.
Yep
Library Board is the devil.
I’m so sorry Christal that you got caught up in this neverending political battle.This started out so simple, with you just wanting to be the library director, and who would have thought it would cause so very many problems. For your own sanity, it’s best to get out now before it gets worse.
Best wishes to you for a better future!
I am sorry that such a nice LADY has to deal with politics when trying to do a job. I had the pleasure of meeting both her husband and herself on a flight several months back and seems like this whole thing is a witch hunt! Leave people alone and let them do their job!