City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz has appointed Donna Dziedzic as interim director of the Evanston Public Library.
Dziedzic will start Tuesday, Sept. 6, and serve until early 2012 while recruitment for a permanent library director is underway.
Dziedzic served from 1996 until earlier this year as executive director of the Naperville Public Library, consistently ranked as one of the top municipal libraries in the nation for its circulation per capita and community programs.
She previously served eight years as assistant New Jersey state librarian, six years as director of the Illinois Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and in various positions with the Chicago Public Library.
Dziedzic has a Bachelor’s degree from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island and a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois.
Bobkiewicz said in a news release, “Dziedzic brings to this position a clear understanding of how municipal libraries can serve as key assets in communities and will be able to assist the Evanston Public Library staff and Library Board complete the leadership and governance changes that are currently underway.”
He addid, “I want to thank EPL Board Trustees Susan Newman and Gail Bush, who as a subcommittee of the Board, assisted me in the selection of the Interim Director.”
“The partnership with the Library Board in these important transition matters is critical to successfully developing a plan for the future of the EPL,” Bobkiewicz said. “I am confident that additional progress on the transition of responsibilities to the Library Board will continue over the next several months, concluding with the appointment of a new Library Director next year.”
“I also want to recognize and thank EPL Adult Services Manager Lesley Williams for her service as acting library director over the past six weeks,” Bobkiewicz added.
Why not chose from inside the department?
I don't understand the decision to go with an "interim" replacement from outside the organization. It takes months to get up to speed (knowing the staff, the issues, the community, etc.). Was there nobody within the current library department that would be able to steer the ship until a permanent replacement could be found? If there isn't such a person, that's a problem too. What a waste of money to hire someone for a short time.
Library
Most confusing. Acting to interim and a delay before actual Director. From what is written I take it that Ms Dziedzic is not currently in a position at the library. What puzzles me even more is that now that the library has become a separate entity, why would any appointment fall to the City Manager?
Interim Director
Director Dziedzic is an excellent choice. I know her only by her reputation and the comments of other Library Directors (always very positive). Her work at Naperville is nationally recognized and that public library is generally seen as the best in the state and in the top ten nationally. She has a strong business background and is an able administrator. She will be able to step into the position quickly and with confidence, just what the Library needs during this transition to a new director.