st. paul

Kit Hadley, the former director of Minneapolis public libraries and one of the architects of the city-suburban library system merger in Hennepin County, has been tapped to lead the St. Paul Public Library.

She replaces Melanie Huggins, who left in June to head the library system in her hometown of Columbia, S.C.

Hadley, who is not a librarian, said she thought her days in libraries were over after she left Minneapolis in 2007. But then she heard the St. Paul job was open -- and open to non-librarians.

"I was reminded of a couple of conversations I had, and was struck about how energized I remain about challenges facing libraries," she said. So she applied.

Mayor Chris Coleman said he appointed Hadley because of her experience in library management, fundraising and community leadership. "She is no stranger to the economic climate and state cuts that are challenging our libraries. Kit's talents and experience will help us overcome those challenges," he said.

She will be paid $123,000 a year.

Hadley, who will begin Aug. 3, pending City Council approval, takes over in an unstable budget climate. One of the city's branch libraries was almost shuttered, and Coleman has said it's likely that open hours will be reduced in 2010.

"Around the country, if you look at older library systems, this is a real common experience," Hadley said.

Still, she's looking forward to the challenges, including the budget concerns, integrating into the digital age and meeting the diverse needs of an urban population.

Peter Pearson, president of the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, said Hadley's "visionary leadership" is exactly what the library system needs right now.

"She's a fabulous choice," said Council Member Pat Harris, who heads the Library Board.

Hadley, a St. Paul resident, most recently led Heading Home Minnesota, an umbrella organization to highlight efforts to fight homelessness. She's a former commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. She earned a law degree from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor's degree from Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass.

The St. Paul system has 13 locations and a budget of about $20 million.

Chris Havens • 612-673-4148