Arizona librarian picked to head Spokane Public Library

A library manager in Arizona is the new leader of the Spokane Public Library. The library’s Board of Trustees voted 5-0 this morning to ask Andrew Chanse, the innovations and strategies administrator of the Maricopa County Library District in Arizona, to replace Director Pat Partovi, who is retiring in May. Partovi has led the library since 2005. Chanse, 36, has tentatively accepted the position, said Monica Fox, the library’s human resources manager. A board subcommittee will draft an employment agreement to make the hiring official later this month, she said. The Maricopa County Library District serves suburban and rural areas around Phoenix. Thirteen applied for the job. Four were picked as finalists and one of those dropped out. The final three candidates were interviewed by the board and public late last month. Trustee Janice Marich said the board was impressed with his communication style and ideas for improving access to the library system. “I think he’s going to take us to the next level,” she said.