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Schu new CDL director
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Saturday, October 4, 2008 8:58 PM EDT
Argus-Press Photo by Anthony Cepak Josh Schu is the new director of the Community District Library. Schu, originally from Flushing, was most recently working as a district librarian for the Genesee District Library before replacing former CDL director Betsy Hull.
CORUNNA - Josh Schu is the new director for the Community District Library.
With the departure of former director Betsy Hull last month, the library board needed a replacement.
The CDL board hired retired librarian Jeff Johnson as a consultant. After interviewing four applicants, Schu stood out.
“He is a very energetic and motivated individual with lots of new ideas,” vice chair Kathy Pavlica said. “He's also an excellent communicator with lots of ideas and plans.”
Schu, 29, is a graduate of Flushing High School with a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Michigan - Flint and a master's in library science from Clarion University in Pennsylvania.
For the past six years, Schu worked as a branch librarian for the Genesee District Library. He said becoming the director of the CDL was a goal of his.
Before she left, Hull outlined a few ideas of where she saw the CDL going. After accepting the position, Schu met with Hull to discuss those ideas.
“We talked a bit about where she saw this going,” Schu said. “I'm going to keep up with some of those things and take the library in a new and innovative direction.”
Schu decided to meet and talk with CDL staff to see what things could be done for the betterment of the district.
“I asked them, ‘what do you need help with' and ‘what programming do you see that you want,'” he said. “I am here to help and assist in those ideas and programs.”
After the meeting, Schu came up with ideas for things he would like to institute, which included continuing the summer reading programs, a total revamping of the CDL Web site and incorporating younger patrons into programming.
“Our biggest patrons of tomorrow are the teens and youth of today,” Schu said. “We have to look at the demographics that have been missed over the years at all libraries.”
Schu said he is interested in new ideas and suggestions from patrons.
“Anyone that comes in can say ‘hey I need this' and if it can serve the community as a whole then it's something I'd like to look into,” he said. “As administration, it's easy to say ‘do this and this' and have no idea what's going on. I'm here to bring in a table and find something that works for everyone.”
Schu's main objective is finding something that inspires people to check out the CDL and encourages people to make themselves more information literate. Schu's ultimate satisfaction comes from succeeding in those areas.
“It's about building something that is going to make a difference in people's lives,” he said. “That's why I got into education and libraries in the first place. My biggest joy is watching that light bulb go on in other people.”
Schu currently lives in Gaines with his wife Amy, who is a third grade teacher at Elsa Meyer Elementary in Corunna. Schu said he looks to move eventually so that his son Mason, 3, and expected daughter can attend Corunna Public Schools.
- Contact Nathan Bruttell at 725-5136 extension 231 or nbruttellarguspress@gmail.com
ShiCo Mom wrote on Oct 6, 2008 2:37 PM: