Eastwood named library director in St. Paul

Jane Eastwood, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's top education adviser, will become the city's library director next week, he announced Monday.

"Jane's expertise in educational policy, lifelong learning and equity is a perfect fit for leading our libraries forward as institutions of 21st-century learning," Coleman said in announcing the appointment.

Eastwood, 64, will take over the job next Monday. She replaces Kit Hadley, who leaves this week after six years of heading the library system.

Hadley makes $130,000, so the move is likely to mean a raise for Eastwood; her salary last year was about $97,000.

Like Hadley, Eastwood is not a librarian by training; she has a psychology degree from Macalester College and a master's in creative writing from Hamline University.

Before going to work as the mayor's education director in 2010, Eastwood was vice president of advancement for Scholarship America, a nonprofit that sought to provide scholarships for 2 million students nationwide.

But from 2006 to 2008 she was director of external relations for the Minneapolis and Hennepin County library systems, when the systems were merging. She oversaw development of programs in K-12, early literacy and adult education; immigrant services; and capital projects. She also served as interim director of the Minneapolis Public Library.

As St. Paul's education director, Eastwood helped launch Sprockets, an after-school program, and Right Track, a youth career development program.

"The innovative and equity-focused educational programs that have come to life under Jane's leadership directly reflect the values and mission here at the St. Paul Public Library," said Peter Pearson, president of the nonprofit Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.

Eastwood was a project manager for St. Paul's Planning and Economic Development Department in the 1980s, when she helped develop cultural institutions, such as the Actors Theatre, and was instrumental in bringing the U.S. Olympic Festival to the Twin Cities.

She was marketing vice president for the Science Museum of Minnesota from 1990 to 2006, when she oversaw grants and directed communications and sales efforts.