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Springfield-Greene County Library District Hires Executive Director

Dr. Edward Walton Will Begin on July 8

Springfield, MO—The Springfield-Greene County Library District Board of Trustees is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Edward Walton as the new Executive Director. Dr. Walton brings with him an impressive 40 years of combined library experience, including 23 years of administrative library service in public and private academic institutions, 10 years of corporate library service and 10 years of public library service. His wealth of experience is a testament to his dedication and commitment to the library profession.

Dr. Walton also served as President of the MOBIUS Consortium Board of Directors, where he transitioned the Consortium from a quasi-state institution to a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, developing and implementing their strategic plan and initiating, planning and selecting a new integrated library system vendor. He holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership in Higher Education from Union University, a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Dallas Baptist University. Currently, Dr. Walton is the Director of Library Services and Operations at Northwest Missouri State University, where he directs the B.D. Owens Library. He previously worked for 20 years as the Dean of University Libraries and Professor of Library Services for Southwest Baptist University.

Board President Rachael Morrow said, “The Board of Trustees is delighted that Dr. Walton will serve the citizens of Greene County as the Executive Director of the Springfield Greene County Library District. Dr. Walton is a natural consensus builder, brings the perspective of varied library experiences and has more than 30 years of leadership experience. His passion for our community, his experience in ensuring our library system remains among the top in the nation, and his mission to always help others succeed make us confident he is the right person to lead the district as we expand and develop to meet the changing needs of our citizens.

Dr. Walton issued the following statement, “For more than 20 years, I lived in the Springfield area. I visited and used many services provided by Springfield-Greene County.

I have always been impressed by the facilities, staff, and support I receive on each visit. Library staff are personable and help me find information and use library services. I have witnessed firsthand the Springfield and Greene County communities’ appreciation and support of their library. I look forward to joining the outstanding library staff and continuing to provide exemplary service to the community.”

Dr. Walton’s office will be in the Library Center’s Administrative offices. His first day in the district will be July 8. In the months to come, a community and patron welcome reception will be planned.

The Springfield-Greene County Library District is a 10-branch system serving the residents of Greene County, MO. For more information, visit thelibrary.org or contact Vickie Hicks, community relations director, at 417-616-0564 or vickieh@thelibrary.org.

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Vickie Hicks is community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at vickieh@thelibrary.org.

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