NOPL Finally Names Director

By Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 9/1/2007

The Katrina-battered New Orleans Public Library (NOPL) has named a director, Donna Schremser of the Huntsville/Madison County Library, AL, more than a year after the resignation of former director Bill Johnson in June 2006; his interim successor, Geraldine Harris, left in November 2006.

Schremser has for 26 years headed a 12-branch system serving 300,000 people, somewhat larger than the current New Orleans population, though smaller than the city's population at its prehurricane peak. While not the largest system in Alabama, Huntsville/Madison leads the state in circulation. “Her experiences with building projects will definitely be an asset to us during this time of rebuilding,” NOPL board chair Irvin Mayfield said in a statement.

Schremser, who's visited the city about 20 times over the years, said she'd told the search committee, “I wanted to make a difference, and I'd always loved New Orleans.” NOPL, which was notorious for low salaries, cracked the six-figure barrier and will pay Schremser $105,000 a year, “a raise for me.”

Five of 12 pre-Katrina branches are open to the public; bookmobiles serve two locations, and the first of several temporary branches recently opened. Schremser stated that “the Gates Foundation has been incredibly generous” with support for the newest branch, in Mid-City, which opened in June and said she was optimistic about future fundraising.