[Michlib-l] Loutit District Library Board Names Director Select

[Chelsea McCoy]

GRAND HAVEN, MI, (November 8, 2021) - On November 2, Loutit District
Library’s Board of Trustees voted to approve a succession plan for the
library director position. The Board unanimously approved a proposal to
name Sara Derdowski as Library Director Select and enter into an employment
agreement. Derdowski currently serves as the library’s Assistant Director
of Finance & Human Resources. John Martin has been the director of the
library since 2011 and will retire from this position at the end of June
2022.

John Martin, a 1974 graduate of Grand Haven High School, returned to Grand
Haven in 2011 when he was appointed director of Loutit District Library
(LDL). Martin served as the library director of the Oak Park Library in Oak
Park, Michigan for 21 years prior to accepting the position of director at
LDL. In 2021, Martin was awarded the inaugural annual Visionary Award from
the Grand Haven Human Relations Commission to honor and celebrate
individuals who demonstrate courage in the face of resistance to change by
affirming diversity and advocating for justice in the civil and social
arenas of the community. For the last decade, Martin has proven himself to
be a strong advocate for marginalized and underserved residents of our
communities. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin led the library in
discovering new ways to offer vital services to the community.

Martin will work over the next several months to begin training and
transferring duties to Derdowski. The choice of Derdowski, an internal
hire, as Library Director Select ensures that the projects Martin and the
library staff have initiated as part of the library’s 2019-2022 strategic
plan will be brought forward to completion. One of Martin’s strengths is
his ability to develop partnerships throughout the community. This
succession plan allows Martin to introduce Derdowski to stakeholders and
ensure that these partnerships will continue to flourish after his
retirement. “With Sara, we have a talented leader who is both passionate
about the library and vested in our community. We look forward to the
future of Loutit District Library under Sara’s leadership,” board president
Dave De Young remarked.

Sara Derdowski was hired as the Business Manager of LDL in 2018 and assumed
the role of Assistant Director of Finance & Human Resources in 2020. Sara’s
background in finance and business operations as a CPA has led Loutit
District Library to greater fiscal responsibility and astute care for
taxpayer dollars. As Assistant Director, Sara has helped develop and
implement innovative ideas, streamlined practices and fostered staff
talent. “I am pleased and honored to accept the position of Library
Director Select,” shared Derdowski. “Over the last three years, it has been
a privilege to work alongside John. I am thrilled to be able to build upon
the foundation that has been established and I look forward to leading our
incredible team to fulfill the library’s mission of expanding horizons,
enriching minds, and engaging community".

To learn more click here: https://bit.ly/3C2ttzy.

-- 

<http://loutitlibrary.org/>

Chelsea McCoy

Librarian I / Programming & Marketing

she/her (what’s this? <https://www.mypronouns.org/>)

616.850.6917 | loutitlibrary.org

407 Columbus Ave. Grand Haven, MI 49417

Expanding Horizons. Enriching Minds. Engaging Community.
<https://www.facebook.com/LoutitDistrictLibrary/>
<https://www.instagram.com/loutitlibrary/>
<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJGvakceRtYoYlJabcxzAcw>
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