Board news

05/21/2025

The Lake Bluff Library Board is committed to making Library governance more transparent, efficient, and accessible. At the May 20, 2025 Regular Board Meeting, the Board voted to consolidate all committee meetings into Committee of the Whole meetings, beginning Tuesday, July 1, 2025. This new structure will bring every Board member together in a single, open forum—allowing you to see every stage of discussion and decision-making.

Why this change benefits our community

The Lake Bluff Public Library Board of Trustees voted at the March 18, 2025 Board Meeting, to extend the Library’s current Pilot Hours through August 2025. The Board will revisit the issue at its July Board Meeting, where it will determine whether to reinstate Sunday hours or add additional evening hours starting in September, following Labor Day weekend.

The Board of Trustees of the Lake Bluff Public Library has announced the appointment of Natalie Starosta as the Library’s new Director. Ms. Starosta will begin her role on Monday, March 10, 2025, following a nationwide search for the position.

At the Lake Bluff Public Library Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, September 17, Trustees voted unanimously to extend the current Hours Pilot an additional six months through March 31, 2025. The Library’s Hours Pilot was originally launched on January 1, 2024 with the goal of aligning the Library’s operating hours with current staffing levels, building usage trends, and budgetary challenges.

On September 17, the Lake Bluff Public Library Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve the appointment of David J. Seleb as Interim Library Director. Seleb will replace Renee Grassi, who announced her resignation earlier this month after serving as Library Director since January 2023. 

On Saturday, February 24, the Lake Bluff Public Library Board of Trustees gathered at the Lake Bluff Park District in their Community Room for their first professional retreat of the Board’s new leadership. The keynote speaker was Jamie Rachlin, President of Meristem Advisors, LLC and Senior Financial Executive with decades of experience as a municipal banker and registered municipal advisor. All Library Board Trustees were in attendance at the Retreat, except one who was absent due to an out of town engagement.

Summary