The blog has been quiet in recent months, but I wanted to step in for a moment with a couple of messages from Celeste Choate, who joined Urbana Free Library as executive director in April.
The first is an excerpt of an interview with Choate conducted by Sean Powers of Illinois Public Media. In it, Choate addresses a portion of the concerns that lead to last summer's #Bookgate controversies. You can listen to the excerpt here: http://will.illinois.edu/news/player/new-urbana-library-director-reflects-on-book-weeking-librarys-future
The second is a note from Choate to Urbana Free Library patrons and others in the community that is posted on the Library's website: http://urbanafreelibrary.org/article/2014/05/31/executive-director
If you haven't had a chance to meet Choate yet, I hope you'll take her up on her offer. I had lunch with her last week and look forward to what seems to be a new era of transparency and responsiveness in the Library's administration. I'm eager to hear what staff and other patrons think so far.
Have you met Choate? If so, what were your impressions?
-Carol
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Public Receptions for Executive Director Candidates
The following dates and times have been set aside for receptions and remarks from three candidates for the Executive Director position.
According to a News-Gazette article:
There's also a newly scheduled 'special' meeting of the Board of Trustees on Monday, February 3, at 3:15 pm in the Satterthwaite Conference Room (UFL basement) with two items on the agenda: public comment and a closed session for personnel matters. [Nb. We've since learned that the closed session is for the Board to interview the director candidate.] Perhaps use the public comment time to remind the Board what the community values / wants in an executive director.
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The text of the official press release from Urbana Free Library follows.
Celeste Choate, Monday, February 3, 4:30-5:30 (remarks at 5:00)
Associate Director, Ann Arbor (MI) District Library (AADL)
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/celeste-choate/5/97/b83
Video presentation: Unusual Stuff at AADL
Article on AADL Board and updates from July 2013
Associate Director, Ann Arbor (MI) District Library (AADL)
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/celeste-choate/5/97/b83
Video presentation: Unusual Stuff at AADL
Article on AADL Board and updates from July 2013
Sarah Rosenblum, Friday, February 7, 4:30-5:30 (remarks at 5:00)
Director, Marshalltown (IA) Public Library
Debra Stombres, Monday, February 10, 4:30-5:30 (remarks at 5:00)
Branch Manager, Aurora (IL) Public Library
According to a News-Gazette article:
"Library Board President Chris Scherer said the decision to hold public sessions with the three finalists was made to add transparency to the process. This will be residents' opportunity to give their input, he said."There seems to be limited time for Q&A at the 'receptions,' but get out there and ask them anyway! For instance, how will the candidates
- address staff concerns that existed before #bookgate but have persisted (and in some instances, been amplified)?
- regain and enhance public trust?
- improve transparency in administration?
- include staff and community meaningfully in strategic planning?
- bridge the digital / app / device / access divide in the community?
There's also a newly scheduled 'special' meeting of the Board of Trustees on Monday, February 3, at 3:15 pm in the Satterthwaite Conference Room (UFL basement) with two items on the agenda: public comment and a closed session for personnel matters. [Nb. We've since learned that the closed session is for the Board to interview the director candidate.] Perhaps use the public comment time to remind the Board what the community values / wants in an executive director.
-------
The text of the official press release from Urbana Free Library follows.
Public Receptions for Urbana Free Library Director Candidates
The Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees and the Search Committee for the Executive Director have announced that three candidates are selected as finalists in the national search and will be visiting The Urbana Free Library for on-site interviews in February. The public is invited to meet each candidate at a scheduled reception. All three public receptions will take place from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm in the MacFarlane-Hood Reading Room on the library’s main floor, and each candidate will make brief remarks at 5:00 pm.
The reception on Monday, February 3 will introduce finalist Celeste Choate, currently the Associate Director of Ann Arbor District Library in Michigan. The public may meet finalist Sarah Rosenblum, who is currently employed as Library Director for Marshalltown Public Library in Iowa, at the reception scheduled for Friday, February 7. The reception on Monday, February 10 will introduce finalist Debra Stombres, currently employed as the Branch Coordinator for the Aurora Public Library Eola Road Branch in Illinois.
More information may be found on the library’s website at urbanafreelibrary.org
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