New Director Hired for Ela Library

The Ela Area Public Library will have a new director Jan. 9.

The library board selected Matt Womack of Streamwood as the new library director. He most recently served as library director at Lake Bluff Library.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return to the Ela Area Public Library as the new library director," Womack said in a press release. Womack worked as the head of technical services at the Ela Library for six years and as a computer training librarian. "It's an excellent library with terrific community support, top-notch staff and a commitment to providing area residents with the best in library services. I look forward to building on Ela's great tradition."

Womack also worked in the private sector, where he designed and implemented library information systems for Yale University, University of Illinois and the United Nations.

"Matt will be a great leader for our EAPL team," Board President John Shaw said in a press release. "He brings strong leadership and management skills. Additionally, Matt's passion for public libraries, along with his strong vision of integrating traditional library services with new technology, will be great assets, especially with our new media lab currently under construction."

Previous Library Director Mary Beth Campe left in July to become the executive director of the Elmhurst Public Library. In the meantime, Assistant Director Brenda Duff has served as interim executive director.