LDL Board Names Ellen Peters New Executive Director

Nov 4, 2022 | Events, Homepage, News

Update From The Library

The Loutit District Library Board of Trustees has named Ellen Peters the new Executive Director of Loutit District Library (LDL). Peters’ experience as an innovative, collaborative leader in various library settings makes her a perfect fit for this role. 

As Board president, I am looking forward to Ellen Peters assuming the job as Executive Director of the Loutit District Library in early December. Following interviews of three candidates, Ms. Peters was the overwhelming choice of the LDL search committee which was impressed by her credentials, knowledge, experience and energy. Subsequently, the LDL Board voted unanimously to hire Ms. Peters as LDL Executive Director. I was personally impressed by her last statement at her interview when she asked, “Would love to move to Grand Haven, when do I start?” I believe that Ms. Peters background and experience working in both a large library system and as a director in smaller Michigan library will serve us well as she assumes the LDL Executive Director position.
Burton Brooks

Board President, Loutit District Library

When Peters assumes the role on December 5, she will plan, coordinate, and direct all library operations. “I am delighted to be joining the stellar team serving the Loutit District Library community, and we are overjoyed to call beautiful Grand Haven our new home,” says Peters.

Peters brings over a decade of librarian experience to Loutit District Library working in a large library system and as the director of a smaller Michigan library. Peters currently serves as Library Director at the Fowlerville District Library in Fowlerville, Michigan. Prior, she was Community Engagement Manager for the Spokane Public Library in Spokane, Washington. Peters received her Master of Library and Information Science from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Gonzaga University. Before starting a career in librarianship, Peters worked as a computer programmer.

Loutit District Library continues to reinvent itself in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of Peters’ first big projects will be overseeing the evaluation of library services and hours to best serve the Grand Haven community. Additionally, the library received a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council to host Spark! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street Exhibit in early 2024. With Peters’ experience overseeing the execution of two Smithsonian Museum on Main Street exhibits while working in Spokane, Washington, she will be instrumental in bringing this exciting exhibit to the Grand Haven community.

Peters succeeds Library Director John Martin. A Grand Haven native, Martin served at Loutit for almost 11 years. After the resignation of Executive Director Sara Derdowski in July 2022, Martin returned as Library Director in an interim capacity in August 2022. Martin will stay on staff temporarily to help onboard Peters to her new role.