Indian Trails Library gets second new director in two years

The Indian Trails Library District board of trustees has hired Brian Shepard as its new director, effective Oct. 28, the district announced in a news release dated for release Sunday.

Shepard was most recently serving as the assistant director/director of operations at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

"We were fortunate to have many excellent candidates apply for the director position," Wally Salganik, library board president, said in a news release. "The board and staff had the opportunity to interview the four finalists for the job and everyone was solidly behind Brian as our top candidate. We believe Brian has the skills, knowledge and experience that will enable Indian Trails to continue providing outstanding materials, programs and services to our members."

His predecessor, David Seleb, stepped down after only 18 months to become executive director of the Oak Park Public Library. He replaced Thomas Simiele, who took the position in 2009, but resigned in 2011 after a successful tax-hike referendum faced legal challenges.

Michael Madden, who was serving as the interim director for the second time in as many years, is expected to stay through Shepard's first few days to assist with the transition.

"I'm excited to be joining the staff at the Indian Trails library," Shepard said in the news release. "The library has a group of committed trustees and a dedicated staff who have developed exemplary collections and services to meet the needs of its members. I believe that together we will build on that success and do great things for the community."

Shepard has been with the Arlington Heights library for 22 years and worked in a variety of positions, including manager of information technology, before being promoted to his current position in 2004. He was instrumental in overseeing the recent $2.8 million renovation of all public spaces at the library, according to the news release.

The Indian Trails Library District serves 67,000 residents in the communities of Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Prospect Heights and Arlington Heights at its central library in Wheeling and Prospect Heights branch.