The Evanston Public Library Board of Trustees approved a request for proposal, with revisions discussed by board members at its special meeting Friday, continuing the search for a permanent executive director. The request for proposal will seek proposals from search firms to aid the board in its search.
The special meeting was scheduled after the board’s May 20 meeting, when board member Meghan Shea was tasked with drafting a request for proposal for a search firm to work with the EPL board on the permanent executive director search.
Former Executive Director Yolande Wilburn resigned in February. Assistant Library Director Heather Norborg is currently serving as interim library director.
Shea shared her draft at the Wednesday meeting. Board members then spent time discussing components of search firms’ proposals, including whether to require evidence of equity, fairness and evidence-based practices, experience working in a unionized environment and references.
Board President Tracy Fulce said evidence of equity, fairness and evidence-based practices would be difficult to get — in her past experience, firms had specifically told her they don’t have those practices.
Board Treasurer Michelle Mills suggested that the practices are more standard now, adding that she had reservations about removing the equity, fairness and evidence-based practices section from the proposal requirements. Several other board members, including board member Esther Wallen, agreed.
“I would rather us stand by our cultural beliefs and impress it upon them to at least consider that these are things that are important to this community,” Wallen said.
Mills said including the practices as one criterion wouldn’t do any harm. If no firms include evidence of the practices on their proposals, Mills said, then it will be neutral.
She also proposed experience with labor unions as another criterion when reviewing search firms.
Board members agreed, and Fulce said experience working with a union environment would be important for the firm.
“A search firm that has no experience placing people in union environments is not the same as a search firm that has extensive experience placing people in union environments,” Fulce said.
The board decided to ask search firms to include relevant experience in their proposals, which could include case studies of the firms’ experience placing leaders in libraries within the context of a union environment.
Ultimately, the board’s initial hurdle for the search firms in the beginning of this process will be their ability to demonstrate public library executive director search experience, a clear fee structure and the case studies.
Mills said allowing search firms to explain their experience with case studies, particularly in relation to searches within the context of a union environment, is important.
“Letting people have the opportunity to explain their experience in something that we do consider to be fairly critical for the success of this individual, I’m convinced that we could add that,” Mills said.
Board members also discussed whether search firms should submit references as a part of their proposals. Mills noted that during a previous search, the board did not ask for references because it was worried about its timeline.
Board Secretary Catie Huggins said that in past experiences, she didn’t find that references enhanced her understanding of companies and firms. Important information can be found in other places, she said.
Wallen disagreed, saying case studies aren’t enough because they come from the firms themselves. References reflect additional perspectives, she said.
“A successful search doesn’t mean that it was a great search,” Wallen said.
Board members did agree on the importance of references later in the process, and Mills said the request for proposal should note that the board will check references — even though it isn’t requiring references in initial proposals.
As discussion over the request for proposal draft wrapped up, Fulce asked the board whether members would trust Shea to make the discussed changes without an additional meeting to review the final draft.
The board approved the request for proposal with revisions as discussed. It will be posted June 1 with a submission deadline of 5 p.m. June 12.
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— EPL Committee makes progress in plans for library’s executive director search
