Community Corner

New Library Director will Start Job Oct. 28

The library board, which fired its former director last spring, cites Jacob Speer's leadership style and desire to become involved in the Waukee community.

The Waukee Public Library will have a new director starting Oct. 28.

Jacob Speer will leave his job as executive director of a library in Indiana to take the position, which pays an annual salary of $82,000, the Des Moines Register reports.

Though he won’t start until late October, Speer plans to attend September ceremony marking the opening of the library’s new Hiram Ori addition, board of trustees president Brian Hughes told the newspaper.

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Speer was selected after he and three other finalists identified in a national search were interviewed by the library board. Speer’s leadership style and desire to become involved in the community were among the factors Hughes cited in the board’s decision to make an employment offer.

Both the usage and circulation of the library have been growing in recent years.

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“We’re a growing library and a growing community, and with a growing community, we’ve got growing needs,” Hughes told the newspaper.

Speer replaces Erik Surbur, who was fired in April after less than two years on the job. Children’s librarian Keri Weston-Stoll has been serving as interim director since Surbur’s dismissal.


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