Library board faces huge task in replacing Daniel


The well-chronicled growth, modernization and top-shelf management of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County truly reads as one of our region’s greatest success stories over the past two decades.

Under the 15-year tenure of the talented leadership of Carlton Sears as its executive director, the 15-branch library system upgraded its physical plants, led a successful campaign for passage of a tax levy in tough recessionary times, modernized online resources systemwide and placed a strong focus on libraries as core community leaders.

Fortunately, after his retirement in 2012, the PLYMC Board of Trustees conducted a detailed and comprehensive search to find leadership just as committed and just as talented as that of Sears. To their credit they found it in Heidi Daniel, who came here from the Houston public library system.

Now, as Daniel prepares to take the helm of the massive Enoch Pratt Free Library system in Baltimore this summer, we wish her well, laud her achievements during her five-year tenure and urge the library board to invest just as much energy, resources and commitment in finding a successor who can rise to her proven level of public-service engagement and keen administrative prowess.

The diminutive Daniel, known by many for her cheery, optimistic and forward-looking demeanor, led the system with gusto and results. Over her tenure, her accomplishments were many and contributed to her honor as Ohio Librarian of the Year in 2015. Among some of the most notable milestones during her sojourn here include:

Planning and overseeing several major building projects, including construction of the Canfield, Tri-Lakes, and Michael Kusalaba branch libraries, and the renovation of Boardman Library.

Initiating innovative and progressive new services, including fine-free cards tailored to use by children and teens, a mobile Pop-Up Library service in schools and circulation of mobile Wi-Fi hotspots.

Building upon Sears’ expertise in making our public libraries vital community resources and multi-dimensional learning centers while expanding the presence of the library beyond the confines of its main outlet on Wick Avenue and its branches.

Running a tight and responsible fiscal ship. She helped deliver voter approval of a tax-levy package in 2014 that through careful planning resulted in an actual reduction in reliance on county residents. She also oversaw development of a fine-tuned and detail-oriented plan to guide the system over the next several years via the My Library 2020 project.

We are saddened that Daniel will not be here to oversee completion of that project but hope that her successor recognizes its strengths and continues on its projected course of improvements for library users and fiscal responsibility to county residents.

To be sure, the task to find her replacement will not be easy as the bar that she and Sears have set over the past 20 years rises incredibly high. As Dr. David Ritchie, president of the library board, aptly put it: “We have seen Heidi Daniel in action as a dynamic, professional, trend-setting library director, who enriched our community and created momentum that will continue to move this library system forward for years to come. So having to say ‘goodbye’ is difficult.”

Cast a wide net

As they begin their search, we would advise board members to follow the same path they took in attracting Daniel from Texas five years ago. That process included casting a wide net across the nation for applicants, intensely interviewing a group of semi-finalists and bringing the top four or five finalists to town for extensive meetings with library staff and managers, follow-up interviews and, perhaps most importantly, public forums at which members of the community can meet and learn about the candidates’ preliminary visions for safeguarding and strengthening the library system’s stellar reputation.

Daniel did much to maintain and enhance that reputation. Indeed her era of stewardship in the annals of PLYMC history will long be critically acclaimed as a memorable chapter of awe-inspiring and community-committed public service.

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