The Westport Library’s Board of Trustees announced today that it selected William H. Harmer, director of the Chelsea District Library in Chelsea, Mich., as its new executive director replacing Maxine Bleiweis who is retiring after 17 years. Harmer will assume his duties in Westport on July 27, the trustees said.
William Harmer meets with the Westport community on May 20. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Harmer served three years as head of adult services before being promoted to its director in 2009, during which time he brought national recognition to the institution, including its selection as the Best Small Library in America by The Library Journal and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Library Journal also named Harmer to the Class of 2009 Movers & Shakers, a list of emerging leaders from around the world making a difference in the library field, Westport Library officials noted.
Trustees said in 2013, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation chose Harmer as one of 120 world library leaders to attend its global conference on the future of libraries held in Cape Town, South Africa.
“Bill Harmer possesses the intellectual, creative and entrepreneurial spirit that is at the heart of the library,” said Mike Guthman, president of the Board of Trustees.
“He comes to us with experience, talent and leadership skills to maintain the Westport Library at the forefront of innovation and to propel the library into its next phase of development and transformation.”
Harmre, in the announcement of his appointment, said he was delighted to be joining “an organization that exemplifies what a world-class, 21st century library can be.”
“I look forward to getting to know the staff and our patrons, developing collaborative relationships with organizations and leaders throughout the community and building on the exceptional work of my predecessor, Maxine Bleiweis,” he said.
Harmer and the other finalist, David Hinkley, director of the Montclair Public Library in Montclair, N.J., met with the Westport community at the library on May 20. (See WestportNow My 20, 2015)
