Arlington Heights library board meets with director finalists
Arlington Heights Memorial Library board members met last week with four finalists for the open executive director position, with a final decision expected this month, officials said.
The interviews were scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights in closed session with the seven-member board, which selected the finalists with the aid of executive search firm John Keister & Associates.
Library spokeswoman Mary Hastings said the board expects to name an executive director by the end of November.
The board is offering a minimum annual salary of $130,000 for the position, according to an online public job posting. The desired candidate would have high-level managerial and leadership experience with financial and planning responsibilities and be seen as "a visionary and innovative leader," library officials wrote.
The board hired the Vernon Hills-based search firm for $19,500 in June to recruit candidates, conduct meetings with the board and staff, advertise the job opening and conduct interviews.
Keister, a former Cook Memorial Public Library and Ela Area Public Library trustee, has done more than 300 executive searches since 1987, including director searches for libraries in Palatine and Park Ridge.
Mike Driskell, the library's director of administration, is serving as interim executive director.
Former director Jason Kuhl resigned last September, citing personal reasons, and is now director of a library district in suburban St. Louis.