Journal & Topics Media Group

Interviews For Next Des Plaines Library Director Scheduled This Month


Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St. (Jennifer Suarez/Journal photo)

Interviews of candidates vying to become director of the Des Plaines Public Library are scheduled on June 24 and 25, just a few days before Director Holly Sorensen’s last day on the job.

Library Assistant Director Roberta Johnson and Head of Adult Services Jo Bonell are both under consideration for the role, Sorensen confirmed Tuesday (June 18).

According to library head of marketing and communications Heather Imhoff, seven potential candidates were vetted and presented to the library board of trustees during a closed session meeting June 6 with John Keister & Associates. The Vernon-Hills search firm was hired by the library for $19,500 in March to find a new director.

Since then, the list has been narrowed down to five potential candidates. In addition to Johnson and Bonell, there are three external candidates, said Sorensen. The library’s board of trustees is expected to conduct face-to-face interviews with the candidates in executive session.

“I think they want to get to this decision as soon as possible,” Sorensen told the Journal & Topics.

If a replacement for Sorensen is not selected by June 30, the day she plans to retire, Johnson will fill in until she or one of the other candidates is officially selected, Imhoff said.

Sorensen, who plans to move to Florida, first joined the library staff in 1999 as head of adult services. She replaced Sandra Norlin as director in 2010. During her two decades with the library, she was active in the community as a member of the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Kiwanis Club.

In January, Sorensen received a salary increase raising her annual pay from $132,020 to $138,621.

“Holly will be marching with the Des Plaines Public Library crew in the July 4 parade, her last ‘official’ day,” said library head of marketing and communications Heather Imhoff June 10.

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