Press ReleaseIowa City Public Library Names New Director


The Iowa City Public Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the hiring of the next library director: Elsworth Carman.

Carman has extensive public library experience and served most recently as the Director of the Marion Public Library. He received his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Information Studies.

Carman was selected from three finalists following a nationwide search conducted by Bradbury Associates of Kansas City, Mo. He’ll succeed Susan Craig, who will retire at the end of the year.

“We are proud and excited to welcome Elsworth Carman as our next visionary leader,” said Robin Paetzold, President of the Iowa City Public Library Board of Trustees. Speaking on behalf of the Trustees, Paetzold said, “We agree that he has the right leadership, communication, and financial skills to deliver the best possible public library service going forward. He gained unique insights during his twelve years in a broad range of public library work including positions as a director, and with children, and teens. Elsworth has a demonstrated commitment to inclusion and collaboration, and is focused on values that mirror our library and community.”  

 “Iowa City is a special place, and I’m excited to become part of the community,” Carman said. “It will be a joy to get to know the people who live and work here and learn more about how the library can contribute to celebrating the diversity, culture, and energy unique to the area. It is a true honor to follow a Director as strong and respected as Susan Craig. I look forward to the challenge of moving ICPL into the future in a way that celebrates her legacy of leadership while also welcoming change and growth.”

Craig will retire at the end of December after 41 years of service. She was named the Library’s Director in 1994.