Board okays request for proposals to find interim director
By Bob Seidenberg
A clearly dispirited Evanston Public Library Board voted Wednesday Feb. 18 to accept Executive Director Yolande Wilburn’s resignation, barely more than two years after she was their top choice following a national search.
After the vote, some members questioned their own future in public service, suggesting that lack of community support figured in Wilburn’s decision.
One of the trustees, Michelle Mills, participating virtually in the meeting, maintained that before board members themselves decide whether to make an application to the city for continued service on the board or make a bid for an officer position, a “reconciliation “ is needed.
“It should deal with”why we’re having a problem with being able to support fully two Black women in leadership roles,” she said, referring to Board President Tracy Fulce and Wilburn, “who have been in situations where they don’t feel like they have the full support of people around them. You want to make sure we have an opportunity to sit with that and make sure we don’t go down that path.”
The board members, some who had participated in the arduous 15 month search which led to Wilburn’s selection in October 2023, voted 8-0 without comment approval of the Executive Director’s resignation and approval of a separation agreement.
The board also voted similarly to move ahead, issuing request for proposals from firms to conduct an interim Executive Director search.
Assistant Library Director Heather Norborg has been serving in that role for Wilburn, who has been on leave since November.
Board members as well as Wilburn, who was not at the meeting, have not issued a statement on what led her to leave the position.
The Board and director came under strong criticism last year from members of AFSCME, which represents library workers, about a proposal exploring the feasibility of EPL moving from a city-run library to an independent library district.
Wilburn recommended that the Library explore the move after not making progress gaining a agreement with the city, on the sharing of costs, including an estimated $20 million renovation of the city-owned main public branch at 1703 Orrington Ave.
Union members staged several actions around the issue, including a march from Fountain Square to a library meeting in August, to demonstrate their opposition.
Wilburn, who had gained a reputation as a “Library Builder,” in her last job as
The board members, some who had participated in the arduous search which led to Wilburn’s selection in October 2023, voted 8-0 without comment approval of the Executive Director’s resignation and approval of a separation agreement.
The board also voted similarly to move ahead with request for proposals from firms to conduct a search for a permanent interim Executive Director.
Assistant Library Director Heather Norborg has been serving that role for Wilburn who has been on leave since November.
Board members as well as Wilburn, who was not at the meeting, has not issued a statement what led her to leave the position.
Several expressed reservations about putting their names forth as candidates for officer positions on the board which are expected to be filled at a future board meeting. “ You know the people who are most inclined to engage civically often don’t because of the abuse you have to take,” said Board President Tracy Fulce.
Trustee Esther Wallen, however, urged members to take pride in the library’s accomplishments.
“It’s not always going to be broken…and so we need to do some reflection and figure out how we are going to move forward,” she said.