Jill Boldenow, who has several years of library and communications experience in the Twin Cities, will become the new director of the Ramsey County Library.

Boldenow is community and digital services director at the St. Paul Public Library, where she has worked since 2013. Before that, she was communications and government relations director for the Minnesota State Arts Board. She also worked nine years for the University of Minnesota Libraries.

In a statement released by the Ramsey County Library Board, Boldenow said she is ready to start the job.

"I am thrilled to join Ramsey County Library," she said. "The system has excellent staff, collections, programs and facilities, as well as deep relationships with library users and partners. I look forward to serving the library and community as director."

The library board confirmed Boldenow's appointment last week, and she will begin her new job on Sept. 12. She will work out of the library's administrative offices in Shoreview.

The Ramsey County Library system has seven suburban locations, with nearly 4.1 million items in circulation in 2015. Boldenow replaces Susan Nemitz, who left in June to become director of library services at the Santa Cruz Public Libraries.

"Jill's strong leadership skills, forward-looking vision for libraries, commitment to racial equity and communications background will be a tremendous asset to the Ramsey County Library system," said Kim Vanderwall, chair of the library board.

"We're delighted to welcome Jill Boldenow to the county's leadership team as library director," said Deputy County Manager Heather Worthington, who oversees the county library system. "It speaks to Jill's extensive experience and enormous talent that she rose to the top of an intensive monthslong national search."

Boldenow, who lives in Minneapolis, has a master's degree in public administration from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a bachelor's degree in film studies and art from the U.

James Walsh • 651-925-5041