Carol Stream Public Library welcomes a new director

Like proverbial ships that passed in the night, both the current and future directors of the Carol Stream Public Library once patrolled the same library shelves.

Now, incoming library director Allyson Renell will enjoy more time with her retiring predecessor, Susan Westgate, in the transition process in Carol Stream.

Following Westgate’s announcement of her retirement earlier this year, a search launched by library trustees secured Renell as the new director of the Carol Stream Public Library.

A nearly 11-year employee of the Downers Grove Public Library, where she currently serves as Children’s Services manager, Renell will officially start July 13.

“I think that libraries are so essential to our communities,” said Renell, of Darien, who has also served as interim director and interim technology director in Downers Grove.

“They’re such a great place for the community to come together, to learn, to grow, or just to hang out, have fun, and I really am excited to be joining a library that also believes that,” she said.

Renell grew up in Bartlett and graduated from Elgin High School in 2005. While studying history and German at the University of Maine, she worked summers at the Bartlett Public Library District, where Westgate served as assistant director before taking the Carol Stream director’s position in January 2013.

“I’m going to have a little bit of overlap time with her, and I’m very excited to get to know her because she’s done such wonderful things at Carol Stream,” said Renell, who earned a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh and has worked 23 years in libraries.

She’s married with two children.

In addition to overseeing the 2019 renovation of the Carol Stream library, Westgate implemented the library’s strategic plan, which improved programming and expanded partnerships with entities such as Carol Stream Social Services and the League of Women Voters.

Westgate started the library’s annual Winter Holiday Open House and ensured the library was a presence at Carol Stream events such as the Fourth of July parade, National Night Out and summer concerts.

Renell, drawn by such facets as the Carol Stream library’s “gorgeous” renovation, friendly staff, and forested story walk, also emphasizes community outreach.

She initiated an intergovernmental agreement with Downers Grove Grade School District 58 that provided library cards for students at the same time they registered for school. About 5,200 students got library cards through that process, she said.

Renell said she’ll initially work with Westgate to learn more about the Carol Stream Public Library staff and clientele because a library is “for the people in that community.”

“I think it’s going to be a great match for us,” Renell said, “and I’m excited to learn more.”