Carolyn Anthony
Director of Skokie Public Library

The speaker for the joint CALL/SLA meeting on January 12, 2006 is Carolyn Anthony. Ms. Anthony has been the director of the Skokie Public Library since 1985. She worked at the Baltimore County Public Library and Enoch Pratt Free Library prior to assuming the position in Skokie. She has a B.A. from ColbyCollege and an MLS from the graduate school of the University of Rhode Island.

Among her many accomplishments in Skokie are:

• Directed 19.3 million dollar construction/renovation project at Skokie Public Library adding 34,000 square feet, 2001-2003, including securing funding, hiring architect and hiring construction manager

• Implemented RFID system for circulation, 2002-2003

• Internet access for adults and youth; computer labs for each

• Introduced fund accounting and electronic ordering for acquisitions

• Increased circulation from 610,082 in 1985 to 1,660,761 in FY 2005

• Initiated publication of quarterly Library Calendar/Newsletter distributed to all households in Skokie

• Initiated digitization of Nazi March and Skokie Historical Society materials

• Established library homepage and community (SkokieNet) homepage

• Initiated programming on Library’s access channel, now 133 hours per week

• Developed collection and services for ethnic populations with LSCA grants for Korean 1990-91, Russian 1991-92

• Skokie Accessible Library Services, a model program for service to persons with disabilities, developed with LSCA grants 1985-87

Ms. Anthony has been very active in professional organizations, including the American Library Association, the Public Library Association, where she currently serves on the Board and the Illinois Library Association, where she served as President in 1999/2000. Since 1999 she has been a member of the DominicanUniversitySchool of Library & Information Science Advisory Board.

She is active in her community as well having served as the first woman president of the Rotary Club of Skokie, on the Board of the Centre East for the Performing Arts and as an Ex Officio member of the Skokie Chamber of Commerce.

Among her honors are being selected the North Suburban Library System Public Library Staff Person of the Year for 2004 and the Illinois Library Association’s Librarian of the Year for 2003. She received a special honor on October 16, 2003 which was declared “Carolyn Anthony Day in Skokie.”

At the January meeting Ms. Anthony will speak on issues surrounding the USA Patriot Act and libraries.