Board of Trustees thanks outgoing Library Director Kate Larsen, celebrates her seven years of visionary leadership
The Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees recognized outgoing Director Kate Larsen for the incredible amount of progress the library has made during her seven years as its director.
The Board of Trustees issued an official Proclamation read by Board President Andrea Cobb to honor Kate and her countless contributions.
The Proclamation recognized Director Larsen for "visionary leadership, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity at the library while tirelessly advocating for equitable access to information for all Tacomans and increased resources for our community." It also noted Kate's "unwavering commitment to our mission, vision, and values which has created a radically welcoming library for all."
In a press release, incoming Library Director Amita Lonial (who has worked closely with Kate for the past five years in her role as deputy director) said, "Kate has forged connections and partnerships that have resulted in substantive investments in the library ranging from increased usership and programming to capital improvements. Her focus on community engagement has created a healthier library system more closely interconnected with its community’s needs and interests."
Read the full Board Proclamation for Kate below to learn more about her many achievements during her seven-year tenure as director at Tacoma Public Library.
RESOLUTION # 24062 Recognizing Kate Larsen for Outstanding Service to Tacoma Public Library
WHEREAS, Kate Larsen has announced that she is stepping down after seven years as Director of Tacoma Public Library where she provided visionary leadership, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity at the library while tirelessly advocating for equitable access to information for all Tacomans and increased resources for our community; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen spearheaded the process to create a comprehensive, community focused Strategic Plan in 2018, starting with numerous Libraries Transform Tacoma input meetings, whose outcomes served as the foundation for the plan to inform library services moving forward; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen successfully implemented Tacoma Public Library’s Strategic Plan that has guided the library’s growth and reflects the library’s deep commitment to meeting the needs of our community, staff, and partners, enhancing library services and ensuring the library remains a vital resource for all; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen strengthened the collaborative relationship between the Tacoma Public Library and the City of Tacoma resulting in the Library IT Uplift / Onboarding project, advancing the library’s technology by decades and bringing the stability required for the library to advance its mission and vision; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen has secured critical funding and resources to aid in the growth and stability of services and staff, including a remodel of the Main library first floor into a first-rate library with modern maker labs, children and teen areas, “Tacoma’s Livingroom”, and a second-floor community hub that houses mission-aligned partner organizations in one central location; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen built strong partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and schools to further the library’s mission and impact and enhance the educational opportunities available to members of Tacoma’s community through increased programming and services with Tacoma Creates, the Tacoma Tool Library, Write253, Tacoma Public Schools, Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, Pierce County Voter Points of Assistance and countless other local organizations; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen prioritized equity and access to reach a broader audience in response to Tacoma’s ever-changing community needs, including undertaking feasibility and site studies to restore library services to the Hilltop and Eastside neighborhoods and suspending the use of overdue fines and expanding material access to include wireless hotspots, podcast kits, sensory accessibility kits, naloxone, and COVID 19 tests; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen’s restored and created critical staff positions such as Deputy Director, Outreach Librarian, Graphic Arts & Public Information Specialist, IT Analyst, Social Worker, Safety and Security Coordinator, Neighborhood Libraries Equity Manager, and created a new class of supervisors so current employees have a path to promotion within the organization; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen skillfully and compassionately guided the Library through the 2020 global pandemic and economic crisis by quickly transitioning our services to virtual and drive-through options, implementing strict health and safety standards for the good of the public and library staff, and collaborated with local organizations to provide access to essential library resources, and provided ongoing training and support for staff to adapt to new technologies and service models; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen worked with library advocates and fundraisers for a successful resurgence of the long-dormant Tacoma Public Library Foundation, leading it to become a stalwart non-profit partner in advocacy and fundraising for sustained community engagement and financial support of key library programs and endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Director Larsen is a tireless advocate for the importance of libraries in fostering lifelong learning and launched the equity-focused Community Archives Center project, secured an unprecedented level of grant funding including from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Archive National Historical Publications and Records, American Library Association, and the Washington Department of Commerce, and received several prominent awards locally and nationally including two John Cotton Dana Awards for excellent strategic communications and the Leadership in Preservation award; and
THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Library Board of Trustees recognizes and commends Kate Larsen for her outstanding service and contributions to Tacoma Public Library and the Tacoma community as Director of Tacoma Public Library and expresses its deepest gratitude for her unwavering commitment to our mission, vision, and values which has created a radically welcoming library for all.
