ELPL Considering Two Internal Candidates to Serve as Interim Director
The East Lansing Public Library board of trustees conducted interviews with two candidates to serve as ELPL interim director at a Thursday, July 10 special meeting.
The search comes after current director, Kevin King, announced his resignation in June, after 16 months on the job. The interim director could spend significant time leading the library. Before King was hired, former Adult Services Librarian Angelo Moreno served as interim director from August 2023 until March 2024.
The two candidates are Elizabeth Kish, the ELPL experience team leader, and Chrissie Evaskis-Garrett, the ELPL collections team leader.
The two candidates were asked a series of questions by the board, and given a chance to ask questions they may have in turn.
Kish stated her previous experience, working in Genesee District Library before coming to East Lansing. When asked about how she would approach various aspects of the position, she stressed following the strategic plan and community outreach.
When asked by board Vice President Ameenah Asante about what challenges or weaknesses she might have as director, Kish noted the weight of responsibility, especially not having been director before. However, she said she is confident in her support system and abilities.
“With staff, how supportive they are, my larger network of library people that I can call upon, my ability to stay calm and think, and when I need to, to take a moment, that’s such a key thing for a director to have,” Kish said. “I know I can overcome that challenge.”
Evaskis-Garrett also has extensive library experience, starting in publishing, then working at Jackson district libraries before taking the supervisor position at ELPL. Evaskis-Garrett emphasized the importance of public outreach and service, as well as the importance of being an available leader.
When asked how she would serve East Lansing’s unique and diverse community, Evaskis-Garrett cited her insight to many demographics as collections team lead, and stressed bringing the library to underserved communities
“Figuring out where the gaps in the demographics are, and figuring out how we get into them, is the point, or else what are we doing?” Evaskis-Garrett said. “If libraries are welcoming and open to all, we need to really mean that. We need to mean all. It’s not about the data, it’s about the lack of data.”
When asked by Asante to elaborate on how she would approach the influx of teens the library receives after school, Evaskis-Garrett suggested utilizing restorative justice practices and increasing staff training, with a focus on harm mitigation, and understanding.
The library board will meet again Wednesday, July 16 at 5:30 p.m. The agenda for that meeting can be viewed here.