Minneapolis Tosses MLS Requirement
for Library Director
On the recommendation of the Minneapolis Public Library Board of Trustees, the city council unanimously approved a revision to the city charter August 9 that eliminated the MLS from the requirements for the city library director post. Trustees are currently recruiting for a successor to former Director Mary Lawson, whose contract they opted not to renew in December.
Board President Laurie Savran wrote a letter to council members explaining that the city-charter revision would enable trustees “to look at the largest number of qualified candidates as possible,” including those capable of fundraising and community outreach, according to the July 2 Minneapolis Star Tribune. In late July, trustee Anita S. Duckor reassured staffers that the change was sought “to broaden our search and increase our pool of candidates with library experience, but not necessarily a library science degree.” She also emphasized that trustees were seeking to raise the director’s starting salary from $110,000 to $135,000 to make it more competitive “within the library directors’ world.” According to the Star Tribune, Lawson’s annual salary had been $102,796.
The library board anticipates naming a new director by the end of October, Duckor also told staff members.
Posted August 19, 2002.
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