A senior manager with the Jefferson County Public Library has been named executive director of the state’s second-largest library system.
Marcellus Turner assumes duties immediately, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Bill Knott after 37 years at the helm. The announcement was made Tuesday.
Turner, 44, joined the Jeffco library in 2002 after stints with public libraries in Rockford, Ill., and Atlantic City, N.J.
He has served as Jefferson County’s deputy county librarian and public services director. He has been responsible for day-to-day operations of the library’s 10 locations, bookmobile and cataloging, acquisitions and collection-development departments.
Library board chairman Keith Grebe said the trustees believe Turner is the right person to guide the library’s future by ensuring that it remains a vital resource to the community.
His salary will be $125,000. At the time of his retirement, Knott was making $155,000.
A nationwide search for Knott’s successor yielded an initial pool of 17 candidates. Three finalists were interviewed in a three-day process last month.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
