Huntley library selects new director

For most people, Thanksgiving week will be a relaxing time to gorge on turkey, spend time with family and watch the Lions on TV.

For Patrick McDonald, new director of the Huntley Area Public Library, Thanksgiving week will be his crash course in the unique challenges Huntley's library is confronting.

Last week, the library board selected McDonald, 34, director of library experiences at Arlington Heights' Memorial Library, out of almost 30 applicants. The library released the name of its new director this week after finalizing his contract.

While this will be his first stint as library director, Huntley library officials said his seven years of experience in Arlington Heights, including overseeing a budget of $4.5 million and five departments, put him ahead of the four finalists the board interviewed.

"The big thing I saw is his love of libraries," library board President Jan Schadt said. "He's got quite a bit of experience."

McDonald is scheduled to start Nov. 23 at an annual salary of $85,000, Schadt said. He will also receive four weeks' vacation, nine paid holidays, fully paid individual health insurance and annual contributions to his pension fund.

McDonald will take over from Virginia Maravilla, who has served as library director for 11 years, overseeing the library's move into its current building, rapid growth in the number of cardholders, the building's entrance into the digital age and two failed tax increases.

McDonald will have to confront the fallout from the unsuccessful tax hikes, namely the library's ongoing space crunch.

"I'm really looking forward to joining a fantastic team of staff members," McDonald said Wednesday. "We're just going to continue on the path Virginia has set forth, in terms of doing the best to continue providing the services we have."

McDonald is an Arlington Heights native and 1993 graduate of Hersey High School.