Executive Search For Library Administration

We help public library boards identify and hire executive library directors. Our experience in the library community and the corporate sector helps us identify management and leadership traits in candidates, assets that are critical to successful administration of today’s library organizations. Our diverse experience enables us to ask the right questions and examine characteristics beyond just the basic skills of a good library Executive Director.

John Keister is a Partner and Co-founder of John Keister & Associates. With more than 25 years of executive search experience, John has completed executive level searches for respected global corporations and library organizations. As a library advocate, John has extensive experience as an elected public library Trustee and library Board President.

John has been active on behalf of libraries at the local, state, and federal levels and has raised community awareness of library issues through town meetings, focus groups, forums, print media, and local cable TV broadcasts. He has successfully negotiated with third parties and local governments to solve community library challenges. John is well acquainted with many ongoing library concerns such as budgets, technology, personnel, and issues of community standards. He has been an invited speaker at numerous library meetings, conferences, and other events.

John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with post-graduate coursework in business management and administration. Prior to founding the search firm, John was a Design Engineer. He achieved recognition for leading innovative design teams and working with customers.

Beth Keister is a Partner and Co-founder of John Keister & Associates. As the technologist for the firm, Beth designs and maintains internal databases and the firms’ websites. Beth has expertise with conducting research for the executive search process and is skilled with the identification of leaders in the library field. She has trained the staffs of several libraries and library organizations on a variety of software packages. She has also consulted with libraries on creating and maintaining databases, directories, and reports that support daily operations. With her analytical business experience and use of the latest technologies, Beth ensures that the search process proceeds expeditiously and efficiently for the client.

Beth holds a Master of Science degree in Statistics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. Prior to co-founding the search firms, Beth was a Project Coordinator with one of the nation’s largest professional associations. She was also a Senior Analyst with a leading insurance company, taught university level mathematics, and has consulted with major educational publishers.