Westport Library Names New Director

The Westport Library Board of Trustees announced that William Harmer will serve as the new executive director of the Westport Library.

Harmer will replace Maxine Bleiweis, who is retiring after 17 years.

Harmer comes from the Chelsea District Library in Michigan where he has been director since 2009. During that time it was selected as the best small library in America by The Library Journal and the Bill and Mleinda Gates Foundation.

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Most recently, the Chelsea District Library was awarded the 2015 Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Award for being a dynamic part of the City of Chelsea’s learning infrastructure in support of local economic development and for its focus on community-building programs and services.

Harmer has also served on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Library Association and as president of the Rotary Club of Chelsea.

Mike Guthman, president of The Westport Library Board of Trustees said, “Bill Harmer possesses the intellectual, creative and entrepreneurial spirit that is at the heart of the Library. He comes to us with the experience, talent and

leadership skills to maintain the Westport Library at the forefront of innovation and to propel the Library into its next phase of development and transformation.”

“I am delighted to be joining the talented team of library professionals at the Westport Library; an organization that exemplifies what a world-class, 21st century library can be,” said Harmer. “I look forward to getting to know the staff and our patrons, developing collaborative relationships with organizations and leaders throughout the community and building on the exceptional work of my predecessor, Maxine Bleiweis.”

Harmer began his library career in 2001 and has held leadership positions at libraries in Farmington and Birmingham, Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature and creative writing from Eastern Michigan University, and a Masters degree in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University. He, his wife Jill and their three children will be relocating to Connecticut this summer.