Comments on: Escambia Library Director Christal Bell-Rivera Submits Resignation

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 03:45:39 +0000

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!

By: Hiring Committee

Hiring Committee — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:56:47 +0000

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…

By: Trying to reason

Trying to reason — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:10:01 +0000

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!

By: Resident

Resident — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:16:25 +0000

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.

By: Northender

Northender — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:09:20 +0000

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.

By: Taxpayer

Taxpayer — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:05:34 +0000

Escambia County is run by 12 year olds.

By: Susie

Susie — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:00:04 +0000

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.

By: Well

Well — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:02:51 +0000

Yep
Library Board is the devil.

By: Emily Fouche'

Emily Fouche' — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:24:00 +0000

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!

By: Olin Schultz

Olin Schultz — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:51:04 +0000

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!