Meet the new Galesburg Public Library Director

The Galesburg Public Library Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the appointment of J. Zachary Holt to be the library’s director, effective May 7, 2018. Mr. Holt replaces Ms. Harriett Zipfel, who retired in October 2017 after six years as director.

Mr. Holt began his library career at the Towanda District Library and has served at the Lexington Public Library District and the Chatsworth Township Library. Since 2015, he has been the director of the Forrest Public District Library in Forrest, Illinois. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Illinois College, where he majored in English literature and minored in Japanese Studies, and received his Master’s in Library and Information Science from Dominican University. He said “I am eagerly awaiting this new opportunity to serve the city of Galesburg. I hope to build upon the foundations of quality service and programming set by the Galesburg Public Library staff, trustees, volunteers and patrons. I believe that, collectively, we at GPL can continue to make a positive impact upon our patrons and the community at large.”

Board President Laurie Muelder said “We were pleased to have a strong pool of candidates from which to choose and welcome Zack’s enthusiasm, knowledge, and vision to the Galesburg Public Library.”

Members of the community are invited to meet Mr. Holt over coffee and cake on Monday, May 7, from 4:30-5:30 pm in the library’s lobby.