Public Library Director - Washington, Indiana

SLIS alumna Teresa Heidenreich (MLS'08) works as the Director of the Washington Carnegie Public Library in Washington, Indiana. The WCPL main branch is in Washington (Daviess County), with a small branch in Plainville. Overall, WCPL directly serves about 19,000 citizens (taxing district and contracted townships). Teresa answered questions about her job in an email interview.

What are your key job duties?
The job duties of a library director in a small/medium sized public library covers a broad spectrum! My official job description is a page and half long but to summarize it in a sentence: I act as the CEO of the library with responsibility for managing and organizing library operations, overseeing library finances and planning and directing its program of service. What does all of that really mean? It means that on any given day I can be found implementing policy and procedure, managing the staff, overseeing technology, preparing long term plans, budgeting, giving a program about the library, writing a grant, selecting materials, working the circulation desk if someone calls in sick or filling up the paper towel dispenser in the public restroom!

What do you like most about your job?
I truly enjoy the diversity of my job, but overall my favorite part is guiding my dedicated staff in obtaining the initiatives, goals and objectives of the library’s vision. Let’s face it, a library can have the best collection of materials in the world, but without a knowledgeable and committed staff that is sensitive to the mission of the library and the needs of the community, quality library service is not going to happen.

Any advice for students?
Do not underestimate the importance of networking! For those of you who live in Bloomington, I would suggest you become involved in as many SLIS activities as possible. For those of you who commute, like I did, and do not have the available time to become involved in extracurriculars, get to know your instructors and keep in touch with guest speakers. I took S603 Grantwriting for Librarians and built camaraderie with my instructor because we shared common interests. When she completed her PhD and relocated for a job, she made a recommendation to SLIS-IUB that I fill her vacancy in teaching the grantwriting course. So now, I enjoy my continued opportunity to give back to SLIS in the way of teaching this practical summer course.

Any other comments?
Honestly, I could talk forever about libraries, librarianship and my experiences. If any of you would like to contact me, please do! theidenr@umail.iu.edu

Posted November 17, 2009