February 2nd, 2011
Kyle names Brooks as new librarian

Connie Brooks.

STAFF REPORT

KYLE — Kyle City Manager Larry Lambert announced Tuesday that Connie Brooks is being elevated to library director.

Brooks has served as the interim library director since last Sept. 1, when long-time librarian Bill Mears retired.

Brooks began her career with the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas. Brooks also coordinated the nation’s first statewide preservation program when she served with the New York State Library. Brooks also headed the preservation department at the Stanford University Library System.

Brooks has worked for the Kyle Public Library since January 2008. She has a BA in Spanish from Mount Holyoke College and a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Texas.

“I am very proud to be named Director of the Kyle Public Library,” Brooks said. “The opportunity to be a part of building the new library facility, along with the expansion of our programs going into the facility, is a truly once in a lifetime opportunity. I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of it.”

Said Lambert, “I’m very excited to have someone with the depth of experience in library administration as Connie Brooks. Connie’s 3 years of experience in libraries across our country, combined with her experience with our Kyle library, make her uniquely qualified for this position.”

The city broke ground on a new library two weeks ago. The $3.567 million project will give the city a 20,000-square-foot library, a huge upgrade from the 5,000-square-foot library in operation since 1962. The city’s population has increased more than five-fold, to about 27,000 people, since 1990.

Completion of the new library is expected in the middle of 2012.

“Connie has proven to be highly motivated to provide quality services to the citizens of Kyle through our library,” Kyle Mayor Lucy Johnson said. “Under her leadership, and with her vision, our new Kyle Public Library will soon become a model for libraries everywhere to follow.”