Leader of Springfield-Greene County Library District will retire at the end of 2023

Claudette Riley, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read

Regina Greer Cooper, executive director of the Springfield-Greene County Library District, plans to retire at the end of the year.

In the announcement Wednesday, the library district highlighted accomplishments during her tenure:

  • Construction of new standalone library branches in Republic and Willard;

  • Purchase of a new Mobile Library;

  • Renovation of the Schweitzer Brentwood branch library;

  • Opening of the Library Express West and East;

  • Becoming a passport acceptance center.

Regina Greer Cooper
Regina Greer Cooper

Cooper was also instrumental in bringing in renowned speakers including the Brown sisters of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, a landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling to end racial segregation in public schools, and the author and humorist David Sedaris.

“Regina Greer Cooper has served the citizens of Greene County and the library system well for 15 years. She started during a time of transition for the district and has helped shape the Greene County library system into one of the finest in the nation," said board president Rachael Morrow, in the release.

"Her tenure certainly has been marked by our physical growth, but our program innovation has been just as important to keep our community learning and engaged. We are so thankful for the strong foundation she and her team have built."

Morrow said the board will seek a new executive director to build upon that foundation. The nine-member board is appointed by the city and county.

Plans for a retirement celebration will soon be announced.

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“When I arrived, this library was in a good place. I didn’t have to solve any problems or get it back to a good place. It was already there, and all I had to do was work with a great staff to continue the high standards and great reputation that the library district already had,” Cooper said in the release.

“I hope that the new director will feel the same. Springfield is a great community and we have an amazing staff that serves our patrons. I have a strong affection for this community,” Cooper said, thanking the Friends of the Library and Library Foundation for their help to the district, as well.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield-Greene County library leader will retire at end of 2023