Susan Kroesche, of Orange City, has accepted a position as director at the Le Mars Public Library. Kroesche is currently working part-time, seen here, at the Orange City Public Library. She is to start in Le Mars Oct. 6. [Click to enlarge]

She will put those interests to use along with her experience and education as new director of Le Mars Public Library, effective Oct. 6 pending final approval by the library board of trustees at the end of this month.

"We have made an offer, and she has accepted," said Randy Becker, president of the board.

"I'm looking forward to knowing the staff and what's going on the library," Kroesche said. "I'm impressed with the (Le Mars) community and its commitment to its businesses and industry."

The director position at Le Mars Public Library has been vacant since May when Scott Zimmer, who had held the position since 2006, resigned.

Kroesche, of Orange City, was the top pick among 11 applicants.

"She has the experience of working at two other libraries as director," Becker said. "She's worked with library boards of trustees before and with city councils. She's supervised staff before."

Kroesche, who has worked part-time at the Orange City Public Library since 2006, has also been special projects coordinator since 2004 for Northwest Iowa Library Services, in Sioux City, which is a consulting arm for local libraries in northwest Iowa.

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Her work with Northwest Iowa Library Services includes managing government programs for 40 northwest Iowa libraries and designing and maintaining its website among other duties, Kroesche said in her resumé.

Previously she worked as a children's library director at Emmetsburg Public Library from 2000-03 and library director at McGregor Public Library from 1993-99.

In Emmetsburg she initiated outreach programs for local preschools, daycares and elementary schools. She also revised, wrote and implemented policies that resulted in the library's certification by the Iowa State Library.

Kroesche said using her experience she plans to work to increase and improve technology and encourage more patron usage of the Le Mars library's website.

Currently the Le Mars library offers a program where people can find books of interest and download them to a MP3 player, free of charge, from its website, Kroesche said.

"I'm really excited about that, and I think the patrons are really going to use that," she said. Kroesche also plans to improve the library's website so that patrons can reserve books online, search for books and check their accounts for overdue materials.

"I'm anxious to see where they are as far as databases," she said. "I know they are involved in a lot of state programs, which is really good."

In addition to technological improvements, Kroesche would like to start adult programming at the Le Mars library and commended the existing children's programing.

Along with library experience, Kroesche also has a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's in children's literature and language arts.

She taught first and third grades, middle school science and English Language Learners before turning her attention full time to libraries.

Since 1994, she has maintained a level four, of six, certification, which is obtained with a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, and completion of Public Library Management 1 and 2, with the State Library of Iowa.

Kroesche said she may in the future seek level five certification, which requires a college credit course in four areas including library administration, selection of all types of library materials, organization of library materials, and reference and information services.

"I will definitely keep up my certification, which is always offering a continued education process," Kroesche said.

Kroesche said the two main traits she will bring to Le Mars Public Library are "my interest and enthusiasm."

She and husband, Ron, will continue to live in Orange City. The couple has three children and three grandchildren.

Kroesche said although she enjoys working at the Orange City Public Library, she's ready for a change.

"The opportunity for new challenges for me are just more far-reaching than what I'm able to do here," Kroesche said. "I'm just excited about the possibilities at a bigger library."