Marion picks new library director

MARION - The Marion Public Library Board has announced it's hired a new director, Elsworth Carman, formerly of the public library in Oak Park, Illinois.

The position became available when Director Doug Raber announced he would retire in March. Elsworth is set to begin April 18 and receive a base salary of $101,112 a year, said City Manager Lon Pluckhahn.

'We look forward to having Carman serve as Marion's next library director,” Pluckhahn said. 'His experience and passion for an exceptional library experience will take our library to new heights.”

Carman was one of three candidates invited to the city to interview with the library board and meet with library patrons in February. The nationwide search, conducted by Bradbury Associates/Gossage Sager Associates of Kansas City for $18,000, took about two months.

During his visit, Carman called the board's proposed $28 million mixed-use facility exciting. Marion is estimated to contribute $10 million to that project while the project's developer, Ryan Companies, will pay for the remainder and engage in a lease-to-own agreement with the city, according to preliminary proposals.

In his meeting with library patrons, Carman stressed the importance of public input in the planning for the new library.

'It could change the course of action for Marion and change the way business is done in this part of the state,” Carman said. 'The public must have input into those changes to make sure they're made appropriately.”

As part of Carman's new job, he will manage the human resources, physical facilities, collection development and financial operations of the library and report to the library board.

He comes to Marion from Oak Park, Illinois, where he was the manager of library experiences and initiatives in public services at the Oak Park Public Library. He received his master's degree in library science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.