The Lake Bluff Public Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Renee Grassi as the next Director of the Lake Bluff Public Library, effective January 2023. Ms. Grassi will join the Lake Bluff Public Library from the Dakota County Library where she oversees the Youth Services Department of nine library locations serving the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota.

“We are so looking forward to Renee joining our Library team,” said Board President Kathy Meierhoff. “It is clear that Renee has a strong sense of the culture of Lake Bluff. She is a team-oriented leader who brings a wide set of experience and skills that will help enhance the excellence of our Library.”

Though her more recent work has taken her to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Ms. Grassi is no stranger to the North Shore. She began her professional career as a Youth Services Librarian at the Deerfield Public Library, where her work developing disability-friendly children’s programs earned her a Movers and Shakers award from Library Journal in 2012. She also served as the Head of Children’s Services at the Glencoe Public Library and the Youth Department Director at the Glen Ellyn Public Library. She earned her Master of Library and Information Science from Dominican University and her undergraduate degree from Marquette University.

Ms. Grassi is a prominent advocate for accessible libraries and has presented internationally on creating accessible library spaces and services for all ages. Her work has been honored by organizations including the Illinois Library Association, the Minnesota Library Association, the Autism Society of Minnesota, and the North Suburban Special Education District, among others.

“I am honored and thrilled to be appointed to such a distinguished role and join the Lake Bluff Public Library team,” said Ms. Grassi. “I am especially eager to meet and connect with Lake Bluff residents to learn about their experiences at the Library. I'd also like to express my gratitude to the Library Board of Trustees and the Library staff for their hard work, leadership, and commitment to serving the Lake Bluff community during this transition.”

The Board would also like to acknowledge the hard work of Katie Horner, who has served as the Interim Director since August. Ms. Horner will continue to serve as the Interim Director until Ms. Grassi begins on January 3. Details on a future public event welcoming our new Library Director will be announced on our website, Facebook, and Instagram.