2009 Eureka! Leadership Institute: Karen Bosch Cobb

Thirty-seven years ago, I arrived via Greyhound in Fresno to be interviewed by the County Librarian. Soon I had a job! As was customary in Fresno, all new librarians started in the Central Library in Reader's Services; thus three new librarians began work the Tuesday after Labor Day 1972 earning $333 every two weeks.

While at the UC Berkeley's School of Librarianship, I was influenced by activist librarian and educator, Fay M. Blake, and her view of service to the public, "information for all". I wrote a paper about providing library service in a coop food store. That paper was emblematic of my desire to take the library to the people and my vision that libraries are as important as food or as I say today, "libraries are our intellectual infrastructure."

Soon I was deeply involved with even more personal service, running the Bookmobile. In 1974, I became the supervisor of a rural branch library; in 1978, I became a manager in a new position supervising one-person branches in small rural communities. Three years later, I became the Associate County Librarian in charge of all branches and assistant to the County Librarian. In 2003, in what seemed like a natural progression, I became County Librarian; my focus as County Librarian has been facilities development, ballot measures, and succession planning.

I have been acutely aware of the dangers of spending one's entire career in one library and sought to broaden my perspective through multiple venues. I worked on committees and served in leadership positions in the California Library Association; these positions taught me practical things such as California Library Law and mentoring, and gave me the opportunity to watch and learn from library leaders. In 1984, I became a volunteer for the Fresno County Employees Credit Union. Today I serve on the Board. I learned about multi million dollar budgets, regulation and business leadership.

I began my career as a shy introvert who purposely did not take a supervision class in library school! In thirty-seven years, I have learned who I really am and how far I can stretch. In my life, the only gifts greater than my career and the ability to give back to my community have been my family, friends, husband and daughter. Being a Eureka mentor fits with my professional and personal goals of making a difference.

Karen Bosch Cobb
County Librarian
Fresno County Library
2420 Mariposa Street
Fresno, CA 93721
V: 559-488-3185
F: 559-488-1971
Karen.BoschCobb@fresnolibrary.org
www.fresnolibrary.org