New library head should be outsider

Recently, it was announced that the Palatine Public Library District director is resigning and transferring to the Mt. Prospect Public Library.

The purpose of this letter is to heartily recommend that the new director of the PPLD be hired from outside of the library. Typically I am a believer of hiring from within, but in this case I do not believe that would be a benefit to the library or the community it serves.

Under consideration currently is the HR manager, an assistant director of the library who does not have expertise in library science. The interim director, formerly the assistant director, may not be the most seasoned candidate either.

Perhaps, the future director should be an actual librarian with formidable experience from a different library.

As a longtime patron and taxpayer, I strongly urge the PPLD's board of directors to conduct a professional search for the most qualified individual from candidates external to the library.

Now that would truly make the Palatine Public Library District an award winning library once again. Thank you.

Pamela Olander

Palatine