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Release Date: 04/09/2008
City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs joins Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Lead Global Libraries Initiative
The Seattle Public Library board of trustees announced today that City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs has accepted a position with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and will leave her Library post July 2, 2008.
Library Board President Eric Liu said, "Deborah's legacy is remarkable. With vision, passion and skill, she has helped build one of the nation's most vibrant and respected public institutions. Deborah leaves us a Seattle Public Library that is strong and ready for its next great chapter. We're grateful for her decade of service and leadership - and while we will miss her, we're glad she'll still be a patron of the Library and a citizen of Seattle."
Liu said board members will soon develop a plan for how it will choose Jacobs' successor.
Mayor Greg Nickels said, "Deborah Jacobs has led our Library through a remarkable period of growth and renewal. She understands the important role libraries play in bringing communities together. I wish her the very best as she takes her passion and dedication to a global stage and leaves a lasting legacy."
Jacobs will begin her work as Deputy Director, Global Libraries for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Aug. 10, 2008. Global Libraries is a special initiative of the foundation's Global Development Program. In her new position, Jacobs will lead Global Libraries, which is focused on reducing inequities by expanding and improving public access to technology in libraries.
"Deborah is an outstanding leader who brings tremendous expertise and passion for libraries to the foundation," said Chip Lyons, Director of Special Initiatives. "She has a deep understanding of the important role libraries play in addressing inequities through free public access to information."
"It has been a privilege to serve as Seattle's city librarian," Jacobs said. "The Seattle Public Library's many successes are due to a dedicated Library Board, hard working staff, support from elected officials, and the advocacy and fund-raising efforts of The Seattle Public Library Foundation and Friends of The Seattle Public Library. Together, we have built a strong foundation able to meet the future needs of our community. I have confidence the Library will continue to soar!"
"While I intended to stay at The Seattle Public Library until my retirement, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given me an opportunity to take the passion and values that guide my life to places where information is not as accessible as in Seattle," she said.
Jacobs was appointed city librarian in November 1997 after an extensive national search. She immediately went to work developing a $235 million comprehensive plan to expand, replace and construct new branches, as well as build a new downtown library. Her commitment to the effort and extensive work in every neighborhood - attending hundreds of meetings - resulted in overwhelming public support for a $196.4 million "Libraries for All" bond issue in 1998. At that time, it was the largest bond measure ever approved for library construction in the country, and passed by a nearly 70 percent majority.
Seattle's spectacular Central Library, which opened to rave reviews in 2004, continues to draw large numbers of Seattle users, as well as tourists and media from around the world. It has become a city icon. In addition, Seattle neighborhoods have welcomed their revitalized branches, many with award-winning designs. Nearly 11.6 million people visited Seattle libraries in person or virtually in 2007. The last two of 28 construction projects - each one completed as promised to voters - will finish in July.
Under Jacobs' leadership, The Seattle Public Library Foundation raised an unprecedented $82 million for library construction and endowments.
Former Library Foundation president and Library Board member Gilbert W. Anderson said of Jacobs' departure, "I'm sad for The Seattle Public Library. Deborah has done such an incredible job for the Library, community and city of Seattle, but I am certainly happy for her, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is certainly fortunate to have someone of her caliber, intellect and drive be part of its team."
With renewed buildings and expanded services, the Library's annual circulation of books and materials has risen to 9.3 million. It was 4.9 million when she arrived. Ensuring the Library maintained a high level of customer service through strong collections and staff, Jacobs helped grow the Library budget from $25 million in 1997 to its current $47 million.
Jacobs often talked about "inventing the future, but staying appropriately anchored in the past." Her leadership of the Library reflected that. Her passion and commitment to the mission of the Library resulted in new initiatives in the areas of early learning, services to immigrants and refugees, and other underserved populations.
She also pushed to incorporate new technologies and more online features to Library services, keeping the Library relevant and accessible to more people than ever before. The Seattle Public Library now offers a 24-hour "chat" reference service, online homework help, free access to more than 70 premium databases, blogs for teens and adults, podcasts of popular Library programs and much more.
Jacobs' commitment to engaging the community led to the strengthening of community partnerships ranging from the Seattle School District to The Stranger, as well as collaborations with scores of cultural groups, such as the Frye Art Museum and the Vera Project.
Jacobs has received many awards that honor her achievements and leadership at The Seattle Public Library.
This month, the Women's University Club of Seattle will honor Jacobs with its Brava Award. In 2005, the Seattle Architectural Foundation named her a winner of the Shaping Community: A.O. Bumgardner Award, Puget Sound Business Journal named her one of Seattle's Women of Influence, and Seattle Weekly named her Best City Shaper.
In 2004, Engineering News Record named her Newsmaker of the Year for "engaging citizens and inspiring designers" and Seattle Magazine named her one of Seattle's 25 Most Influential People. The same year, she also received a Civic Enrichment in the Humanities Award from the Museum of History and Industry.
In 2003, she was named an honorary member of the Seattle American Institute of Architects. In 2001, Jacobs was named one of Governing Magazine's Public Officials of the Year, becoming the first librarian ever to receive the honor. She also was named Intellectual Freedom Champion of the Year by the Oregon Library Association and Librarian of the Year by the Library Journal. More information can be found at: http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=about_leaders_citylibrarian_more.
For more information contact:
Andra Addison, communications director for The Seattle Public Library
206-386-4103
andra.addison@spl.org
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
206-709-3400
media@gatesfoundation.org
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