Library Trustees Announce Appointment of Permanent Library Director/Town Librarian

Greetings Enfield Library Patrons and Enfield Citizens,

The Enfield Public Library Trustees are delighted to announce that Kate Minshall has been appointed the Enfield Public Library’s permanent Library Director/Town Librarian effective February 15, 2022.  Kate came to Enfield in January 2020 as Assistant Librarian with a focus on children and teen services from the Norwich VT, Public Library where she had been the Youth Services Librarian for 8 years.  Kate received her master’s in library science from the University of North Texas and has spent her entire career working in libraries, early childhood education, and childcare.  Kate is well known for her story time: Many an Enfield child (and parent!) has watched Miss Kate read a story on the Library’s YouTube channel with glee and joy! (see: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW0-DpcA-2d5ZamChN6TRPA/videoswith)

Kate was appointed interim Town Librarian in September of 2021 and under her leadership, the library has thrived with new energy and enthusiasm.  New patrons have been welcomed, and programming planned and implemented, vacant positions were filled, and the new staff trained.  Kate did this while continuing with her regular duties focusing on the needs of Enfield’s children and teens.  Supported by comments from patrons, the Trustees felt that Kate was the right candidate for Enfield as we look to a future that will continue to be more in-person, will hopefully involve a significant library facilities upgrade, and will include new and exciting programming that will engage young children through Enfield’s seniors.

Initially, Kate was hesitant to be considered for the permanent job.  As she became more engaged and saw the impact she was making in the library community, she reassessed being considered as the Town’s permanent Librarian.  The Trustees worked with Kate and ultimately determined to move from a search process to one that would validate that Kate was the best fit at this time.   This “validation” process involved Kate interviewing with the 3 Library Trustees, Lebanon Library Director Sean Fleming, Enfield’s Assistant Town Manager Alisa Bonnette, and Library Patron/Enfield Citizen Dolores Struckhoff.  It also included the Trustees receiving informal feedback from the existing library team.  At the completion of this process there was unanimous agreement that Kate has the skills, focus, energy, expertise, temperament, and drive to lead our Library into the future. The Trustees are thrilled to welcome Kate to the position of Library Director, and we look forward to working closely with her as she shapes a fresh and engaging vision for the Enfield Public Library.  Kate has initiated a search for her replacement, and we are optimistic we will be back to full staff in March.

The Trustees want to extend sincere thanks Alisa Bonnette, Sean Fleming, and Dolores Struckhoff for their time and their expertise – this process was better thanks to the involvement of each of them.

If you have not been to the library, please stop by and introduce yourself to Kate and the team. We think you’ll enjoy the experience, and it will be an opportunity for you to learn more about the proposed Library renovation and expansion that is on the April Town Meeting warrant.

Dominic C. Albanese
Chair, Library Trustee

Shirley Green
Treasurer, Library Trustee

Francine Lozeau
Secretary, Library Trustee

Enfield Public Library
https://www.enfield.nh.us/enfield-public-library