Posts tagged boulder public library
Finally! A new Boulder Public Library Director named
Apr 25th
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.
City Announces Library Director Finalists, Invites Public to Meet Candidates
Apr 8th
BOULDER – The City of Boulder today announced that four finalists have been selected from a nationwide search for the Boulder Public Library director. The finalists were selected from 26 applicants during the extended search.
“Our extended search for a library director enabled us to consider 78 candidates. We believe these finalists are prepared to lead a complex organization like our library system and its performing arts center,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam. “Each of the finalists has significant library and management experience.”
The city will conduct a final round of interviews following a public presentation by each candidate, and a community reception for members of the public who wish to meet the candidates.
Members of the community are invited on Sunday, April 17, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to hear the candidates’ perspectives on balancing innovation and tradition in a public library context. The presentations will be held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway. A public reception to meet the candidates will follow from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the lobby.
Finalists for the Boulder Public Library director are:
Ann Kling, assistant deputy director for Public Services, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Buffalo, NY
Valerie Maginnis, director of Library and Cultural Services, City of Mission Viejo, CA
Jennifer Miles, acting director, Boulder Public Library, Boulder, CO
Donna Walker, manager, Neighborhood Libraries, Outreach Services, Child and Family Library Services, Arapahoe Library District, Centennial, CO
Information about the candidates, as well as comment cards, will be available at the public presentations and reception on April 17.
The City of Boulder posted the position in November 2010 and extended the search for a library director in February 2011. The recruitment firm Peckham and McKenney assisted in the nationwide search for the Boulder Public Library director. The city anticipates announcing the selected candidate in May.
Flood season begins in Boulder Here’s how to be prepared
Apr 8th
April 10 to April 16, 2011, is Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week, and the City of Boulder would like to remind community members that along with severe weather comes flash flood season. Boulder’s flood season officially begins in April and runs through the end of September, but floods can happen at any time.
Boulder is the number one flash flood risk community in Colorado due to its location at the mouth of Boulder Canyon, the number of people who live and work within the Boulder Creek floodplain, and the numerous other drainage basins running through the city. Therefore, flood safety and preparation is always a high priority for the community. However, following the Fourmile Canyon Fire, there is a lack of vegetation and permeable soil in the burn area. This creates an increased possibility of rain run-off and flooding on both Boulder Creek and Fourmile Canyon Creek if a severe storm were to occur over the burn area. This increased flood potential could last anywhere from 2 to 10 years until the landscape starts to recover.
The City of Boulder and its partners are working together to prepare for the season and to educate community members on how to prepare.
What can you do?
Be alert. It can be raining in the mountains and dry in Boulder. Rainfall in the burn area could result in:
Muddy or murky creek water downstream.
Creek levels rising more quickly.
Higher frequency of flooded underpasses.
Increased possibility of flash flooding.
If it is raining, avoid seeking shelter in underpasses. Many of Boulder’s underpasses serve the double purpose of conveying flood waters. This means that they are meant to flood and to help contain flood waters from overflowing into other areas.
Remember, flash floods can literally occur IN A FLASH during a severe storm. It’s important that residents and people who work in Boulder keep track of the weather and know the dangers. Here are some steps residents and employees can take to increase their safety if a flood event should occur in Boulder:
Before a flood – Be ready:
Have a plan for where to meet in an emergency and make sure children know where to go when they are at school or away from home.
Keep an emergency kit accessible. Include a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, flashlights, rubber boots and gloves, first-aid supplies, medicines, water stored in tightly-sealed containers and food that requires no cooking or refrigeration.
If you’re concerned about your property being flooded, consider purchasing flood insurance. A homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover flood damage. There is a 30-day waiting period before new coverage goes into effect.
Fill out a Family Flood Action Plan and post it in your home. Visit www.boulderfloodinfo.net to print off a Family Flood Action Plan or pick one up at one of the Boulder Public Library branches or at the city’s Municipal Building at 1777 Broadway.
Sign up to get emergency alerts sent to you on your phone, email or Twitter account at www.BoCo911Alert.com.
During a flood:
Move to higher ground immediately.
Stay out of flowing waters. Swift moving waters may sweep people away.
Avoid driving through flooded areas. Cars float in 18 inches of water and half of all flood fatalities are auto related.
Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Electrocution is the number two killer in floods.
If time allows, turn off electricity and gas.
When an emergency warning is issued by sirens, radio or other media, seek response information immediately. Tune radios to 850 AM or televisions to local news stations.
After a flood:
Stay away from disaster areas until authorized. Clean everything that got wet to avoid bacteria and mold.
Continue to monitor local media for disaster and recovery information.
There is no way to predict whether flooding will occur. It is dependent on many variables including intensity, duration and location of storms as well as existing soil conditions. The best course of action is to be alert and be prepared.
The city maintains a flood information website that can help residents prepare before, during and after a flood event. For more information about personal preparedness, visit www.boulderfloodinfo.net. To sign up for emergency alerts on your phone, email or Twitter account, go to www.BoCo911Alert.com.
