Meet Scott Kinney CEO-Library Director Of The  Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Meet Scott Kinney CEO-Library Director Of The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Earlier this week the Publisher of the City-County Observer contacted me and asked me to write a short article about myself and the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library.  We chatted for a few minutes and during that conversation, I was able to tell him about all the exciting things that have been going on at EVPL.  I began working at EVPL on January 4^th, 2020. Who knew what a tumultuous year 2020 would have been back then?  The year began normally enough, I was able to visit all of our wonderful facilities and meet many of our wonderful staff members.  Of course, everything changed in early March, when a new virulent virus had begun spreading across my newly adopted state. 

In consultation with our outstanding library Board of Trustees, we, unfortunately, had to suspend in-person library services in mid-March.  Like many other public libraries across our state and nation, EVPL moved quickly, pivoting to enhance our online services.  

Your EVPL staff never stopped serving the residents of Vanderburgh County.  We enhanced our eBook, eAudio, Movie, and Music download offerings.  We enhanced our website to make it more user friendly, added an online library card registration feature, and increased the number of student eCards.  EVSC students in grades 3-12 now have EVPL student eCards that allow them to access all the EVPL online resources.  These services were also made available to the private schools in Vanderburgh County. 

EVPL also enhanced our already popular “EVPL to Go” curbside service.  This service is now available Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at every EVPL location.  We also took the time to make many repairs to our facilities, striping parking lots, installing new lighting fixtures and installing new security cameras at our locations.  We also installed new water fountains that allow our users to fill water bottles.

New computer equipment was also installed in preparation for re-opening to the public.  We now have new self-check stations at every EVPL location. Wi-Fi reach was extended, and Wi-Fi printing was made available at all EVPL locations. 

Your dedicated EVPL staff also participated in professional development workshops, ensuring they will be providing you the best possible service.  We also completed our newest EVPL Strategic Plan.  Some of the action items are already underway, like our new Maker Space, complete with 3D printers, Podcasting, Cricuts, Drawing tablets, SLR camera and green screen.

We also re-launched Business Central, adding a new page for people looking to expand their business or to learn how to start a new business.  We also hired a new Business Librarian.   Education Central was also rebranded.  We have enhanced both our digital and print education materials and will continue to build partnerships with educators and homeschool families.

Most importantly, the EVPL staff using our new maker tools learned how to take our programming online.  We hosted and presented Storytimes, authors, musicians, and created new tutorials to help you use our newly expanded resources.  Our talented staff has created some of the best digital programmings I have seen, but I might be just a little bit biased.  

These are just some of the exciting things that have happened this past year.  Stay tuned, because I am sure there will be plenty more new and exciting things this coming year.

I almost forgot, Ron asked me to tell you a little bit about myself.  Sorry about that, it much more fun writing and telling you our great library staff.  Besides, I am a firm believer in you are only as good as what you are accomplishing now, and not what you have done in the past.

However, with that said a promise is a promise. 

In my most previous position, I was the Director of the Mobile Public Library, located in Mobile, Alabama. While there, I worked with elected officials, the Library Board of Trustees, Friends of the Library, and the Mobile Public Library Foundation to provide the best in library service to more than 412,000 thousand Mobile area residents. The Mobile Public Library was also recognized for meeting the Gold Standard by the Alabama Library Association, their highest honor.

Prior to being named the Director of the Mobile Public Library, I was the Director of the Sweetwater County Library System located in Green River, Wyoming.  The Sweetwater County Library System is the largest County Library System inland area served in the country, serving residents over 10,500 square miles. In addition, I served as the director of the Chadron Public Library in Chadron, Nebraska. While in Chadron, CPL launched a plan that provided literacy development for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. CPL also instituted Homebound Services, Adult Summer Reading and created programs to revitalize the library’s teen user base.

I also served as the Manager of Access Services of the Laramie County Library System in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where I oversaw the Technical Services Division.  While at LCLS I also managed the Public Computer Room, served as a reference librarian and maintained the library system’s website. As a member of the LCLS Management Team, I was involved in the planning process for Laramie County Library System’s new 100,000 sq ft Central Library, the 2008 National Library of the Year. Prior to this I also held several positions at Both Florida State University and Kearney State College.