Sarah Johnson takes on job supporting library

Last month Montana Adventure Sports co-owner Sarah Johnson stepped into a new role. 

Johnson began as the executive director of the ImagineIF Library Foundation on March 9.

The Library Foundation is dedicated to supporting ImagineIF libraries, raising funds for projects and services not covered by the county library system’s operating budget.

“There are certain needs that don’t get filled within the budgets we have,” Johnson said. Those needs include landscaping, new carpet and Automated External Defibrillator units.

Johnson grew up in California. She studied public policy at Duke University with an emphasis in non-profit management. She worked at a variety of non-profits in the Bay area before going to law school. She practiced law for 10 years before she moved to Bigfork with her husband, Renny Johnson, and three young children, to open Montana Adventure Sports.

“Moving here was really a lifestyle choice,” she said. “We really love getting out and enjoying everything the Flathead has to offer.”

Now that all three of her kids are going to school full time, and her husband has a great manager at the shop, Johnson decided to seek a new employment opportunity.

“It was time for me to kind of go back into my work world,” she said. “I’ve been in the non-profit world as either a volunteer or a board member consistently. I’m thrilled to be full time in the non-profit world again, it’s a wonderful opportunity.”

Johnson interviewed with the Library Foundation on a Thursday, and was at work a week and half later.

“ImagineIF Library is just on the cutting edge,” she said. “It’s just a joy to be here. The staff is amazing. Even in my wildest imagination I couldn’t come up with something this good.”

The Library Foundation helped ImagineIF through a successful rebranding last year, and Johnson said they hope to continue to help the library succeed.

“We want to support ImagineIF to be everything that is within its strategic goals,” she said. 

“We’re so lucky that we have the leadership in the county library that we do, and the programming is so exciting because it’s expanding and it’s changing.”