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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><b><u><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></u></b></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial">CONTACT: <b>Elizabeth Senoli, <span style="color:black">Chelsea District Library Board of
Trustees, President</span></b><span style="color:black"> </span></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial">PHONE: 734-662-2142</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial">E-MAIL: <a href="mailto:esensoli@chelseadistrictlibrary.org">esensoli@chelseadistrictlibrary.org</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:150%"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">June
2, 2015 | Chelsea, MI</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:150%"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial">Chelsea
District Library Director Bill Harmer Resigns to Take Position in Connecticut</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">The Chelsea District Library Board of Trustees bids
farewell to visionary Director Bill Harmer, who has been with the library since
2006. Harmer has been named Executive Director of the Westport Library in
Westport, Connecticut effective July 27, 2015. His last day in Chelsea will be
July 10.</span></p>
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Elizabeth Sensoli, Chelsea District Library Board President said “</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">While I am happy for the wonderful
opportunity ahead for Bill and his family, I admit to sadness for Chelsea’s
loss. Bill is a brilliant director. His talent and spirit have made our library a
very special place, at the heart of Chelsea.
Personally, I will miss his unquenchable enthusiasm and “out of the box”
thinking. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Trustee, Robin Wagner added, “Bill is a remarkable
leader, driven by a contagious passion for continuously improving the library
experience for guests, staff, and community. Bill’s constant focus is
understanding what is this library today, envisioning how can it be better
tomorrow, and wondering how to get there sooner than tomorrow.”</span></p>
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</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Harmer began working at the Chelsea District
Library in 2006 as the Head of Adult Services where he was instrumental in
establishing a service planning model for assessing community’s needs and identifying
service priorities. Through his outreach model, he pioneered new programs such
as Artist-in-Residence, Midwest Literary Walk, the Stories of Chelsea Oral
History Project, Purple Rose Theatre Concert Readings, and the Comedy Showcase.
</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Promoted to Director in 2009, Harmer continued to
build upon his belief that the library experience cannot be viewed as just an
information transaction, but also an opportunity to reach out and connect
lives. His ability to connect with community, work closely with staff, and respond
quickly to emerging trends led to the Chelsea District Library being recognized
by <i>Library Journal</i> as the 2008 “Best
Small Library in America”. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">In addition to his role as Library Director, Harmer
currently serves on the SRSLY Anti-Coalition Executive Committee, is a member
of the Chelsea Lions Club, served as President of the Rotary Club of Chelsea,
and was a former co-chair of the Chelsea Area Wellness Coalition, as well as
Marketing Coordinator for the Chelsea Summerfest.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">In his formal resignation letter to the board,
Harmer wrote, “</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Throughout my years in Chelsea, I have had
the honor and privilege to work alongside a world-class staff dedicated to
advancing learning, literacy, civic engagement, innovation, and service that is
second to none. With a Board of Trustees committed to the long-term vitality of
the library in the community, and with our Friends of the Library and 140+
library volunteers constantly providing all of the resources we have needed to
create our magic, I have been incredibly fortunate and lucky these nine years
in Chelsea. I am awed at our enviable and lengthy list of astonishing
accomplishments.”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Sensoli reported that the Board of Trustees will
establish a search committee and engage a leading search firm to identify a new
executive director. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">“Bill leaves us with big shoes to fill, but standing
next to those shoes is a strong organization with an unparalleled staff,” said Sensoli.
“Chelsea District Library will continue to be a ground breaking library,
dedicated to enriching and serving our community.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">For more information, please contact Chelsea
District Library Board of Trustees President Elizabeth Sensoli, 734-662-2142 or
<a href="mailto:esensoli@chelseadistrictlibrary.org">esensoli@chelseadistrictlibrary.org</a>.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial">About Us: Chelsea District Library is nonprofit
organization whose mission is to provide equal access to quality resources that
serve the lifelong cultural, educational and informational needs and interests
of all people. The Library currently
serves 14,000 residents in the Chelsea district – City of Chelsea plus Dexter, Lima,
Lyndon and Sylvan townships and more than 20,000 individuals visit the Library
each month. For more information visit
<a href="http://chelseadistrictlibrary.org">chelseadistrictlibrary.org</a>.</span></p>
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<div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Patty Roberts | Marketing Coordinator<br><div><div>Chelsea District Library | 221 S. Main St. Chelsea, MI 48118</div><div><a value="+17344758732" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">734.475.8732 ext. 216</a> | <a href="mailto:proberts@chelseadistrictlibrary.org" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">proberts@chelseadistrictlibrary.org</a></div></div></div><div></div></div></div></div>
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