Three finalists to become the director of the Daniel Boone Regional Library talked about their plans and concerns for the library during a meeting and panel with the library staff and the community Monday evening.
All three finalists are well-experienced librarians and directors who were chosen from 28 candidates during the application process that started on Sep. 24.
Candidate Margaret Conroy is currently the assistant director at St. Charles City-County Library District. She has been a professional librarian her entire career. Conroy said her priority would be better serving the community.
“I understand that the library district has gone out and had conversations with customers about what services they would like to see,” said Conroy. “So I would like to continue those conversations and do my best to put those wishes into reality for our customers here.”
Candidate Matthew Hortt, who has experience in fundraising and strategic planning, said he would focus on fulfilling the strategic plan that has been set forth by the board.
“I think one the very great thing about the strategic plan they’ve put out is there’s a very strong stance that’s taken in the lining of the strategic plan,” said Hortt. “So really my focus will be to work on each strategic initiative within that plan, going on finding either funding or partnerships to push that plan forward into really meet both the needs of community and all the goals that are set forth by the board.”
Candidate Robin Newell, the public library executive director in Emporia, Kansas, said that education, technology and community engagement are the keys to the success of the library.
The board members of the library will gather opinions from the community and the staff members and hold a board meeting Tuesday afternoon. The board hopes to announce the new director by the end of this year.