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A three-time Blue Island Woman of the Year winner has been hired as the new executive director of Homewood Public Library. 
Colleen Waltman is the new executive director of Homewood Public Library. (Official photo)
  Colleen Waltman is the
  new executive director
  of Homewood Public
  Library.
(Official photo)
 

On May 15, the library board of trustees selected Colleen Waltman to fill the position. Waltman comes to Homewood from her job as director of Blue Island Public Library, where she has worked since 2014.

During her tenure, she was responsible for updating the library’s tech annex, creating a maker space, securing several grants, and increasing material and program offerings.

 
“I applied for the Homewood position because I am a long-time resident of the South Suburbs, and familiar with the Homewood-Flossmoor area and the commitment to community and quality education the area is known for,” Waltman said.
 
Waltman will begin her full-time employment on July 8, but will be available for some part-time work before then, said Kathy Parker, the acting library director. She is filling a vacancy created in December 2018 when former director Amy Crump left the job for a position in Bellwood. Waltman will earn $86,850 annually. 
 
As an active member of the Blue Island community, Waltman was nominated Woman of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2018 by the Blue Island Chamber of Commerce.
  
“I have spent much of my career working in diverse environments and consider that a plus in a community and a work environment,” she said.
 
“I have absolutely loved being the director of the Blue Island Public Library and I look forward to developing community partnerships, working with the staff, Friends of the Library and the board of trustees in a similar way in Homewood.”
 
Waltman has a bachelor of journalism degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana and a master of library science degree from Dominican University in River Forest.
 
She has worked in academic libraries, including five years at University of Chicago. In 2003, she transitioned to full-time public library work.
 
She has held numerous local and national positions with various organizations, and has presented at the Illinois Library Association Conference.
 

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