Library Director Johns Resigns
Evanston Library Director Mary Johns has submitted her resignation effective July 15, 2011. Ms. Johns has been appointed Library Director of the Siouxland Libraries in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a joint library system of the City of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County, South Dakota. City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz has appointed Lesley Williams to serve as Acting Library Director beginning July 16 until an Interim Library Director is selected. Williams is currently the Adult Services Manager of the Evanston Public Library.
“Mary Johns has served as Library Director during a complex period in the history of the Evanston Public Library. The Library has been through difficult budget and governance challenges while seeing a rebirth of active community support for its services. Through all of these demanding times, Mary has remained focused on providing the best possible service to library patrons and supporting the talented staff of the library. Mary’s dedication to serving the residents of Evanston will be missed,” said Bobkiewicz. Ms. Johns has served as Evanston Library Director since February, 2008. Prior to her arrival in Evanston, Johns was Assistant Library Director in Lincoln, Nebraska and served in similar capacities in Maricopa County and Chandler, Arizona.
Bobkiewicz expects that an Interim Library Director will be appointed by September 1, 2011.