A search has begun for the next director of the Fond du Lac Public Library.

Applications for the position are now being accepted by the city of Fond du Lac for the library director position. Candidates must have a master’s degree in library and information science, years of library management experience, and strong communication skills. A full job description, approved by a new search committee, can be found at fdlpl.org/jobs/.

Members of that search committee met for the first time Aug. 11. Committee members include Library Board of Trustees members Sharon Simon, Tiffany Brault, Emily Hayes, and Dusty Krikau, as well as city of Fond du Lac Human Resources Manager Jackie Braatz.

No timetable has been set for the completion of the search process. The full library board will meet Aug. 21 to discuss the director search further, and a tentative date of Sept. 9 has been set for first interviews. The position will remain open until filled.

The vacancy being filled is due to the departure of current Library Director Jon Mark Bolthouse, whose last day will be Sunday, Aug. 24. Bolthouse, whose next position will be as a library director in the Rockford, Illinois area, led the library through many transitions during the past 13 years. These transitions include the creation of Chapter 52 Bookstore in lieu of a used book store in the library’s lower level and pursuing new digital resources after the arrival of COVID. 

An interim director to lead the library starting Monday, Aug. 25 is expected to be selected at the board’s Aug. 21 meeting. Meanwhile, the next meeting of the search committee will be held Monday, Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. in the library’s Community Room.

Fond du Lac Public Library operates two locations: the Main Library at 32 Sheboygan St. in downtown Fond du Lac, and the Allen J. Buechel Branch at 1139 E. Johnson St. near Festival Foods. The main library is open daily: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Chapter 52 Bookstore at 52 Sheboygan St. is open Monday through Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the Allen J. Buechel Branch is open weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., and weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about any of these locations, visit fdlpl.org.