It is with great pleasure that the Island Free Library Board of Trustees announces the appointment of Robert D. Farwell as our new Library Director. We are confident that Bob will be a valued member of our library team, as well as an active member of the Block Island community, and we encourage you to join with us in welcoming him to the island. Bob’s first day will be November 27, and, among others, there will be an opportunity to meet him at the holiday party hosted by the Friends of the Library on Friday, December 1, at 5:00 p.m.
Bob recently retired after 18 years as the Executive Director of Otis Library in Norwich, Connecticut, population 40,000. During that time, he guided the library through a major building expansion, implemented improvements in library services, public spaces, and programs, including hiring new staff and implementing outreach to a growing immigrant population, and bringing more diverse communities into the library. Bob’s strengths and interests include advocacy, staff empowerment, planning and implementing change, encouraging team members to realize their full potential, and building community relations.
The trustees plan to seize the opportunity during this transitional period to initiate a process of evaluation and strategic planning for the future of the Library, and will be organizing sessions for dialogue with director, staff and the community in the coming months.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sarah Cullen, Chair
Island Free Library Board of Trustees