Bailey Anderson, Black Earth Library Director, takes position at WPR, stepping down after three successful years

Three years ago, Bailey Anderson arrived at the Black Earth Library and felt lucky. “The Black Earth library has a close-knit and friendly staff and a fabulous and knowledgeable board, all of whom have done a great job of welcoming me to the community, not to mention the other folks in the building who I get to interact with on a daily basis,” she told the Star News in her front-page article on June 24th, 2021. Just over three years later, the Black Earth Library Board and patrons consider themselves lucky to have had Anderson as Library Director this long. At the end of the month, Anderson will move on to a new job in Member Services with Wisconsin Public Radio, in donor management. “I am very excited for that position, but of course I’m sad to be leaving this position in such a supportive and tight knit community. It was a difficult decision for me to make and it was the result of months of contemplation,” explained Anderson. Longtime Black Earth Library Board member and current President Gary Schuetz said: “Most people are used to seeing Bailey at the front counter, recommending books and checking out movies. Behind the scenes, though, she was a leader in every sense of the word. She encouraged the library staff to take advantage of continuing education opportunities. She brought on new board members when others stepped down, expanded the pool of library employees while keeping within the limits of the annual budget, and advocated for the library at every opportunity. One of the most important things she did was work hand-in-hand with the board to address the library’s space needs, one of our biggest concerns. In fact, she wrote a $4 million facilities grant we’re still waiting to hear about.” The Library Board, it could be said, reluctantly accepted Anderson’s resignation at their September 17th meeting. “I’m all about the people around me succeeding,” said Schuetz.  “Bailey was really good at her job and I’m sorry to see her go. She is good for the library. But I also understand the need to do what’s right for yourself and I think she is going to take her new job by storm. They are lucky to have her, and we were lucky to have her on our team for a few years.” Added Anderson: “The decision to find other opportunities was not taken lightly, and I hope that the Black Earth Public Library can continue on its path of growth in my absence. In the next few weeks, I will endeavor to leave as much of my institutional knowledge behind to make that happen. I love this library, and this community, and I wish for it nothing but the best.” Anderson’s first day was May 3rd, 2021. Her last day will be October 4th—with her first day at WPR on the 7th. According to Scheutz, Anderson is “basically going to finish out the month with a focus on wrapping up major projects, such as the budget proposal, and documenting her ‘institutional knowledge’ of the library expansion project.” Anderson reflected: “I am extremely grateful for the experiences I’ve had, and I feel I was able to ‘leave it better than I found it.’ From getting the ball rolling on a building project to expanding adult programming options to making the library the ‘place to be’ in our community, even down to getting new carpets, we’ve done some good work together as a team. I value the relationships I’ve built here with the community members, staff, and the board.” Schuetz said: “She had a vision for the Black Earth Public Library to become something influential, a cornerstone of the community, where people could gather and do things beyond reading the newspaper or checking out a book. She kickstarted the author fairs. She started book clubs. She initiated tons of programming for people of all ages. She had big ideas and a big vision for the future and I hope the library board can live up to her standards.” At the Library Board’s September 23rd meeting, they approved Kirsten Rogers, Children’s Librarian, to fill in as Interim Director until a new director is found.