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Minneapolis library leader to move to county post

Minneapolis library director stepping down to become the deputy Hennepin County administrator.

By Terry Collins, Star Tribune

Last update: October 30, 2007 - 12:02 AM

After months of rumors that she might leave, Minneapolis Library Director Kit Hadley is stepping aside to become deputy administrator for Hennepin County.

County Administrator Richard Johnson is expected today to ask the County Board to approve her appointment. She could begin as early as Nov. 26.

In an e-mail sent to library staff Monday, Hadley said she intends to work on the much-debated and pending merger of the Minneapolis and Hennepin County library systems early next year.

The combined system would have 41 libraries, including the year-old Central Library downtown, and contain more than 5 million items in 37 languages.

"The only thing that compensates for the difficulty of leaving is how positive I feel about the future for libraries in Minneapolis ...during this time of great challenge and promise," Hadley wrote to library staff.

"She's going to be such a great asset to the county," Laura Waterman Wittstock, a member of the city Library Board, said Monday. "I'm happy for her."

Hadley said she will ask the board to name Jane Eastwood as acting Minneapolis library director during the merger. It is expected that current Hennepin County Library Director Amy Ryan will oversee the merged systems.

Before serving as city library director, Hadley was commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for nine years under Govs. Arne Carlson and Jesse Ventura.

Hadley replaces Johnson, who became acting county administrator in March when Sandy Vargas left to become the head of the Minneapolis Foundation. Johnson was named administrator in August.

Terry Collins • 612-673-1790

Terry Collins • tcollins@startribune.com