Three candidates are finalists to become the new director of the King County Library System (KCLS), according to a press release from Monday, Nov. 10.
The position opened in January for the second time in more than 50 years when 25-year director Bill Ptacek left to head the library in Alberta, Canada. The previous director headed KCLS from 1962 to 1988.
KCLS began its search for a new director in February, with public meetings, focus groups and an online survey to gather public input about the key characteristics most important for the new director. After an intensive nationwide search conducted by The Hawkins Company and June Garcia LLC, three candidates have been selected for final interviews: Nicolle Davis, Pam Sandlian-Smith and Gary Wasdin.
Davis is the current executive director of the Arapahoe Library District in Englewood, Colorado.
“Staff and library lovers know public libraries are essential in developing life-long learners and that our spaces are ideal for community to gather. The future for public libraries requires progressive thought regarding technology, space, collections and community partnerships,” she said.
Sandlian-Smith is the library director for Anythink Libraries in the Rangeview Library District of Thornton, Colorado.
“Learning is at the heart of our mission. Libraries have always been learning places. Now more than ever, they are becoming a place to interact with information, a place to fulfill one’s dreams and sense of curiosity,” she said.
Wasdin is the executive director of the Omaha Public Library in Omaha, Nebraska.
“At Omaha Public Library my priorities have been focused externally, building stronger relationships with elected officials, community and business leaders, and philanthropic foundations. These relationships have enabled us to develop a vision and strategy that is intrinsically tied to our city and county,” he said.
A reception is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m on Thursday, Nov. 13 at the KCLS Service Center in Issaquah. Library constituents and members of the public are invited to meet the candidates in an informal setting and provide written comment to the Board of Trustees for consideration. The Board will conduct final interviews on Friday, Nov. 14.
At its last meeting on Oct. 29, the KLCS Board discussed the contentious Mercer Island library remodel. It voted to go ahead with the current plans, though many Islanders addressed the Board and asked for a moratorium on building until a new director is appointed.
“Islanders have been one of the most KCLS-supportive communities,” according to a letter written by the Mercer Island City Council and sent to KCLS on Nov. 4. “None of us want to see that support put at risk when there is still a chance to regain public confidence. We want your new director to be greeted by a supportive Mercer Island rather than a community in revolt.”
Founded in 1942, the King County Library System operates 48 libraries, with an annual operating budget of $94 million and 1,300 staff. Recognized in 2011 as Library Journal’s Library of the Year, KCLS is one of the largest and busiest library systems in the country.
For more information, call 425-369-3233 or email mshatcher@kcls.org.
