PCPL hires new director

Thursday, November 21, 2013
After months of searching for a new library director, Grier Carson, will fill the position starting Jan. 2.

After searching for a new director for the past few months, the Putnam County Public Library Board approved the hiring of Grier Carson during the board's monthly meeting Wednesday evening.

Carson, one of several applicants interviewed by the library's search committee following the retirement of longtime library director Alice Greenburg in August, has been working in Illinois for the past several years as director of academic technology at Lake Forest Academy.

"After going through all the applications we came up with a list of who we thought was worth a phone interview," Board President Nancy Zennie explained. "From that point, we weeded it down."

The decision to hire Carson was made a little easier following an in person interview along with a public presentation earlier in November, where he provided both the board and the library's patrons with a small glimpse of his new ideas that he believes will bring the library into the 21st century.

"He gave a stellar presentation," Zennie said. "The thing that's so exciting about him is that he is extremely technologically savvy. He has all of these great ideas with technology aspects, which is something as a board we've been talking about; the need to upgrade our technology and make it more appropriate for today's use for both children and adults in order to draw people into the library."

It was clear during his presentation, his biggest goal will be steering the library toward a more technological friendly place, which will integrate the traditional library with the digital world. He will also be looking to keep the library a place where everyone can come in and learn.

"That's one of the most exciting things about him," Zennie said. "He's extremely personable and he's a very gregarious person. He admitted to us that he's a Carnegie Library geek. It's always been a goal of his to be a director of a public library."

Carson will begin his position as library director on Jan. 2. The library will be holding an open house to introduce him to a community at a later date.

Along with hiring a new director the board also accepted Lynne Tweedie's recommendation to hire James Champion as a reference assistant.

The board received more good news as the Little Free Library at the park is now nationally recognized.

Following the meeting a special input session was also held on the remodeling of the children's section with architects from OMS.

During the session, patrons were able to gain further insight on the preliminary plans that the library and OMS have come up with following a previous input session, which was held in October.

Ideas ranged from making a nature area outside area where kids can learn about different wildlife and plants native to Indiana, a media room with different age appropriate activities and interactive spaces for different age groups.

Currently, the library and the team from OMS are still looking into the suggestions provided by the public and trying to integrate them into the plan.

Patrons can look at the design plan at http://ow.ly/qiTsX or on the library's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/putnamcopublib.

More information on renovations will be available in future issues of the Banner Graphic.

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