Schaumburg library director to retire at year's end

After nearly eight years at the helm of the Schaumburg Township District Library, Executive Director Stephanie Sarnoff plans to retire at the end of the year.

The library's board of trustees has posted the position and expects to start interviewing applicants in the near future, board President Julie Bosshart said.

"We're definitely sad to see Stephanie go," she added.

Sarnoff, whose previous position was director of the Scarsdale Public Library in New York, said she's spent her entire life in the northern half of the country and plans to bid farewell to harsh winter weather by retiring to Sarasota, Florida.

Sarnoff said she expects to oversee the completion of the $1.4 million renovation of the central library's lobby and Audiovisual Theatre before she retires Dec. 31.

The board is hoping to have Sarnoff's successor in place a month before she leaves to allow some overlap, Bosshart said.

Bosshart pointed out that appointing an executive director is among the chief responsibilities of the board of trustees - albeit one that doesn't arise very often.

Before Sarnoff's arrival in the winter of 2009, Mike Madden held the position for more than 41 years - virtually the entirety of his career.