Familiar face to take reins at Itasca library
After 17 years, Itasca Community Library’s adult services director has landed her dream job.
Tuki Sayathe was named Monday as the executive director of the Itasca Community Library, effective Oct. 1. She will replace longtime director Betsy Adamowski, who will take over as director of the Wheaton Public Library, also on Oct. 1.
“This is so bittersweet and sudden. I hate to see Betsy leave but her departure led to this beautiful dream for me,” Sayathe said. “My heart is very much with this community and this community has always been extremely supportive of their library. So it is a pleasure to work for them.”
Sayathe joined the library in 1994 and worked there until 2003, when she went to the Addison Public Library. She returned to Itasca in 2006 as the director of adult services.
Adamowski supervised Sayathe throughout most of her tenure in Itasca.
“There was no one else it could have been,” Adamowski said. “The board was only looking internally before deciding whether to do a search and Tuki blew them away. I knew she would. She is so ready for this.”
Sayathe said she will immediately look to strengthen community relationships built by Adamowski and “work to make the library more accessible to the community.”
“We are too much within our four walls. The people who walk through our doors are wonderful but we need to hear from the people who don’t come in,” Sayathe said. “Do they know they can download materials to E-readers? I don’t know. Do they know we have DVDs and e-books? I don’t know. We need to get that word out.”