Library lands new director

Cook Memorial Public Library in La Grande announced its new director to be Kip Roberson. He will begin Oct. 14, moving from the MidCity West Regional Library in Seattle as its manager to leading La Grande’s library.

Roberson, 55, has been working in library sciences since graduating with a master’s degree from Indiana University in 1989. His undergraduate degree in business left him with job opportunities he said were less than desirable, and when talking to a friend who was in library school he decided that was the direction he was interested in going in his career. He started working at libraries in Indiana and in Chicago, then moved on to small libraries in New England before coming to the West Coast.

“I like trivia and you get to deal with a lot of reference and research questions,” Roberson said when asked what originally drew him to a career in library sciences.

At first, Roberson said, he thought he wanted to work in the behind-the-scenes technical side of the library, but he quickly realized he wanted to be in a public facing role. His previous jobs at smaller libraries allowed him to do that and as Cook Memorial Library’s director he will have the opportunity to continue in a public role.

“In a small rural community where you have a strong sense of community, the library holds a central role,” Roberson said. “I’ve always enjoyed that aspect. (At first) I wanted to work for big libraries but I realized it wasn’t as enjoyable.”

Roberson had been at his previous position in Seattle for five years when he decided to apply for the position at La Grande’s library. He will be taking over for former director Terri Washburn, who left in July.

He said he is looking forward to living in La Grande.

“It reminds me of a small New England town,” Roberson said.

As the library director, Roberson will have a very hands-on role, meeting and greeting patrons, working the front desk, developing the library’s collection and working with other staff members on program development, in addition to the daily tasks of scheduling for staff. He plans to help the library develop a strategic plan, which it currently does not have.

Before he can begin helping the library, Roberson said, he wants to get a sense of what is actually needed at this time by consulting his staff, La Grande City Manager Robert Strope and, most of all, the visitors of the library on what they would like to see.

Strope, along with a search committee, chose Roberson because of his qualifications and history, Strope said.

“When you take a look at the full package of what he brings, with his education and experience in smaller towns, he was the best choice,” Strope said.

Roberson said what he loves most about his career is that “the library can be whatever you want it to be. That place of refuge, where you find your favorite book. It has the potential to be whatever you need.”