Maginnis Named Boulder Public Library Director

BOULDER – The City of Boulder today announced Valerie Maginnis will be the new Boulder Public Library director effective June 13, 2011. Maginnis was selected from 78 applicants in a national search. The decision came after public presentations by the finalists and interviews with city staff and members of the Library and the Arts commissions.

“I am honored and excited to have been selected for the position,” said Maginnis. “I am very much looking forward to working with staff, volunteers, and the community to explore ways that the Boulder Public Library can be even more important and relevant to the lives of its current and future patrons.”

Maginnis is currently the director of Library and Cultural Services for the City of Mission Viejo, Calif. She has more than 20 years of experience in city and county libraries. Maginnis holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University and a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Arizona.

“The Boulder Public Library is a centerpiece of the community,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “This is a complex organization to lead and requires a dynamic director who can manage the business operations as well as connect with a diverse and passionate community. I believe Boulder has found such a director in Valerie Maginnis.”

Brautigam added that evaluating a national pool of highly qualified candidates was a difficult task, and community input was a significant component of the process.

“Any time an organization conducts an executive search, it is a time-consuming and challenging process,” said Brautigam. “In the case of our library director, the individual must be able to lead a traditional library system as well as manage a performing arts center. I appreciate that so many residents and staff attended the public presentations to provide feedback on the finalists, and I want to thank members of the Library and Arts commissions for participating in the interviews. It was an excellent opportunity for finalists to meet the community and for citizens to provide input.”

Maginnis fills the position vacated on July 9, 2010, by Tony Tallent. She will earn a salary of $128,000 and assumes her role as Boulder Public library director on June 13, 2011.