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Arlington Heights library director resigns for 'personal reasons'

Arlington Heights Memorial Library Executive Director Jason Kuhl resigned suddenly for "personal reasons," library officials said Tuesday.

Kuhl, who had been executive director since June 2012, resigned effective Monday.

Reached at his Arlington Heights home Tuesday night, Kuhl cited personal reasons for his departure, though he declined to detail exactly what those reasons were.

"It was great working here," said Kuhl, who declined to say what, if any, plans he may have.

Library board President Deb Smart also refused to detail the reasons for Kuhl's resignation, and other board members, when contacted Tuesday afternoon, referred questions back to Smart.

"It's unfortunate he's left," Smart said. "He gave us many years of service. We wish him and his family the best."

Mike Driskell, the library's director of administration, has been appointed acting executive director by the library board.

The board will discuss next steps in trying to find a new executive director during its next meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 3.

Smart said Kuhl resigned Monday morning and was not at the board's meeting Monday night. She said the board learned of his resignation before Monday, though she declined to say exactly when Kuhl informed them.

Kuhl said he told the board of his intentions to resign "a few days ago."

Smart would also not comment on his job performance and whether the board wanted him to stay, saying only, "He did a great job for us."

Kuhl said he did not have an employment contract with the library board. He was making a salary of $146,453, plus $17,628 in health insurance benefits, according to an employee compensation report.

Kuhl joined the library in 2008 as manager of information services and was appointed library operations director in 2010.

In the earlier part of his career, he was a branch manager for the St. Louis County Library. He received a bachelor's degree in art history from Illinois State University in 1997, and a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois in 1999, according to his LinkedIn profile.

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