Des Moines Public Library Names New Director
By Michael Kelley Oct 25, 2010The Des Moines Public Library Board of Trustees has selected Greg Heid as the library's new director.
The director of the Newton County Library in Covington, GA since 1999, Heid is scheduled to assume his new responsibilities in January 2011. He replaces Saul Amdursky, who retired in March.
Heid, who was selected on Oct. 22, explained at a public forum held Oct. 12 how he would help meet some of the challenges that lay ahead for Des Moines.
"We need to position the library services for funding when the economy improves," Heid said, according to the Des Moines Register. "There are going to be a lot of agencies that come to the public table and say: 'We want to have our funding back and we need a little bit more.' What gives us that little edge where people will listen to us?"
Experience in library construction
Heid holds several degrees, including a master's degree in library science. He began his career at Hennepin County Library, MN, where he worked until 1978. He became the manager of the central branch of the Atlanta Public Library in 1981, and he went on to manage that system's 30 branch libraries. He oversaw the consolidation of the Atlanta Public Library and the Fulton County Library systems.
Heid has extensive experience in library construction, overseeing the building of six new branches in Atlanta and the renovation of two more. He also worked for five years in the state Office of Public Library Services as a construction and technology consultant to 27 public-library directors. In his present post, he has overseen the construction of three LEED Gold-certified branches. The final one is scheduled to open in January 2011.
Renovations in Des Moines
His construction experience will prove useful in Des Moines, which is in the last phase of a ten-year campaign to rebuild and renovate its entire system. The system's new central library opened in 2006. In addition, four of the system's five branches have been completely renovated at a cost of $5.8 million.
The final phase of the project, the expansion of the most heavily used branch (Franklin Avenue Library), has just begun. The $8.2 million project will add 10,000 square feet to the library (up from about 17,000 square feet). The Des Moines Public Library Foundation is attempting to raise the final $1 million the project requires.
"There are some challenges ahead, but many more exciting opportunities that lay before us which will enable the library system to continue to offer extraordinary levels of quality library service to the citizens of Des Moines," Heid said.
Heid will be moving to a larger system: Newton's three-branch system has a projected operating budget of $1.7 million for FY11. Des Moines current budget is $6.6 million, and it has been cut $935,000 over three years ($100,000 in FY09, $300,000 in FY10, and $535,000 in FY11).
The system has had to reduce hours and reduce staff (all through attrition except for two part-time custodial positions). The staff has agreed to eight furlough days in 2011.
There were four other finalists for the job (which will pay $115,000): Greg Lubelski, a former library director in Wooster, OH; Kitty Pope, library system director in East Peoria, IL.; Douglas Raber, library director in Ferndale, MI.; and Gary Shaffer, library administrator in Sacramento, CA, according to the Register.
The acting library director, Sally Wisdom, did not apply for the job, but she praised the selection.
"We think Greg has both the breadth and depth of experience the library needs at this time and are very excited to have him lead the library," Wisdom said, according to the Register.
