(Chelsea Update would like to thank Patty Roberts for the information in this story.)
Chelsea District Library (CDL) has launched its search for a new library director as Bill Harmer begins his new post as the Executive Director of the Westport Library in Connecticut.
His last day at the Chelsea Library was Friday, July 10.
The library’s Assistant Director Linda Ballard, a 20-year veteran of the library, has agreed to serve as interim director until a new director is in place.
The Board of Trustees appointed a search committee comprised of Gary Zenz, library board trustee and Secretary who will chair the committee, which includes Board Trustees Jan Carr and Charlie Taylor, CDL Head of Adult Services Keegan Sulecki, CDL Marketing Coordinator Patty Roberts, and Chelsea community members Peter Feeney and Aubrey Martinson.
The search committee selected John Keister and Associates (JKA) to assist them in the search during a special meeting on June 16.
“The committee spent considerable time evaluating two highly recommended search firms,” said Patty Roberts in a press release. “Making the final decision was difficult because (there were two firms) both very qualified with great track records.”
The search committee was impressed with JKA’s depth of experience, particularly with libraries, and their innovative, proactive approach to executive recruiting.
Representatives from JKA said that they enjoy working with libraries because they are the heart and soul of their communities. “In the end, we decided that JKA’s methodology would give us the best chance of finding that unique individual who will provide the leadership, vision and innovation Chelsea District Library patrons have come to expect,” said Roberts.
Library Board President Elizabeth Sensoli said the first step in recruiting a new director will be to develop a comprehensive profile for the director position.
“A clear and detailed understanding of the qualities we need and want in a director is critical to finding the right candidate,” she said.
JKA will visit Chelsea on July 16 and 17 to meet with the board, staff, and Friends of Chelsea District Library. While here, they will also explore Chelsea and the surrounding townships and talk to people outside the library to gain a more thorough understanding of our community.
Once the Library Director job description is developed, JKA will solicit candidates using a dedicated website and their library networking channels as well as conventional media. JKA will research and extensively interview these candidates to refine the pool to a handful of final candidates.
Those “finalists” will be invited to visit Chelsea for face-to-face interviews with library stakeholders and to meet the public.
Ultimately, after all the research and interviews are done, the search committee will make a recommendation to the CDL Board of Trustees.
“It is important that we take the necessary time and effort to recruit the right person for our director position,” Sensoli said. “We will be looking for someone who understands that our library is more than four walls with library collections, it’s an integral part of what makes Chelsea so special.”
For more information about the library, please click here.
