Anyone who followed the Main Library fiasco over the past few months knows Eleanor Schmidt, the library’s director who fervently pushed to keep the building open while the city considered closing it to build a new one. Now that the situation has been solved and no closure is in sight, Schmidt has announced her resignation after more than 20 years in the Long Beach library system.
From yesterday’s Press-Telegram:
“I’ve had an absolutely amazing career,” Schmidt said. “I didn’t expect to end on quite the note that it did. I expected it to be a little quieter.”
While it may not have been quiet, Schmidt’s last few months on the job were certainly effective, as she very visibly campaigned to increase awareness about the possible closure and the effect it would have on the community. She often presented at community forums and City Council meetings, fighting in favor of library visitors and staff who would have suffered from the loss of the Main Library. As director of the city’s library services, her expertise was brought into play explaining the infrastructure of Long Beach’s library system and how a Main Library closure would place considerable strain on every local branch.
According to the P-T article by Paul Eakins, Schmidt’s official retirement date is December 31 but she will likely leave sometime in October due to unused vacation time.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor