Palatine library hires LaGrange director for top job

After a nationwide search, the executive director of the La Grange Public Library for more than nine years has been chosen as executive director of the Palatine Public Library District.

The library's board of trustees Tuesday announced the appointment of Jeannie Dilger, effective Jan. 8. Her salary will be $122,000 per year. She was chosen from a wide number of applicants with the help of professional search consultant John Keister of John Keister & Associates.

"The search and selection process was extensive, and we thank all of the very qualified candidates that participated," board President Bruce Jefferson said in a news release.

Dilger said in the news release that she looked forward "to building on the significant accomplishments of the library over the past few years and to continue to enhance, develop, and deliver innovative library services and programs that all residents of Palatine Library District can enjoy."

Prior to working in LaGrange, she served as a consultant to Chicago area libraries for the Metropolitan Library System. She is a former president of the Illinois Library Association. She also has held positions in outreach services and youth services with four other library systems. She earned her Master of Science degree in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dilger succeeds Anthony Auston, who resigned last spring to take a position as executive deputy director of the Mount Prospect Public Library. The Mount Prospect resident had been at the Palatine library nine years, three as executive director.

The library district serves approximately 90,000 residents, mainly in Palatine and Hoffman Estates.