Library Executive Director

Evanston, IL, a city of 76,000, sits on the shores of Lake Michigan directly north of Chicago. Home to a diverse and engaged community, Northwestern University, and Endeavor Health, Evanston boasts an active downtown, nationally recognized school system, and an award-winning public library, Evanston Public Library (EPL). Evanston has a vision to create the most livable city in America.

Evanston Public Library “connects our diverse community through learning, discovery, and shared experiences, providing equitable access to resources, fostering personal growth, and creating inclusive spaces where everyone can belong, learn and connect.” EPL currently serves our community in two permanent physical locations, the Main Branch located in the heart of Evanston’s downtown, and Robert Crown, a branch located in a bustling community center on the city’s west side.

In 2025, the library enjoyed 446,448 visits, with patrons checking out 967,993 digital and physical items. EPL’s FY 2025 budget was over $9m and the library relied on the support of over 90 employees and 200+ volunteers.

The Evanston Public Library Board of Trustees envisions a community in which the library engages all residents in reaching their aspirations. The library’s staff, collections, programs, technology and leadership help ensure that:

• All Evanston residents of every background and ability have the opportunity to enjoy an intellectually and culturally rich life
• Every child experiences the pleasure of reading, the joy of learning, enters school with the requisite developmental skills and continues to develop critical thinking skills including functional literacy
• Our community celebrates, appreciates and supports its diversity in all of its forms
• Those in need can find assistance and information with ease
• Every resident experiences the pleasure of reading and the joy of lifelong learning

The Executive Director of Evanston Public Library will guide the organization through the next chapter of its collective story, working to realize EPL’s Vision and Mission . The Evanston Public Library is governed by an engaged board of nine trustees, seeking an excellent communicator able to develop and empower staff through authentic engagement, partnership, training and support. The Executive Director must be financially astute, able to manage the budget process, and committed to building on the library’s history of fundraising and grants by creatively seeking additional sources of revenue.

This visionary leader will collaborate with the community, staff, and City of Evanston, as well as engage and leverage the Board of Trustees as a valued resource, and work to fulfill Evanston Public Library’s mission and vision. The executive director will lead the organization through a strategic planning process and help foster purposeful and meaningful connections with the community, including those most in need of access to the library’s literature and technology resources.

Setting and Implementing the EPL Strategic Plan

• Direct and participate in short-term and long-range planning for the library to facilitate growth, improve internal functions and enhance the delivery of services to the community, including overseeing the library’s marketing and development activities.
• Model innovation, creativity, and thought leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering in a manner that upholds the organization’s vision and drives its mission.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by evaluating the organization’s effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative data and refining the strategy to ensure success and sustainability.
• Ensure written and spoken communication is consistent with organizational goals and priorities, and…