The Highland Park Public Library Board of Trustees announces that Kate Jaggers has resigned her leadership position of the Highland Park Public Library in order to become the Assistant Director of Public Service of the Hunterdon County Library System, effective January 6.
Kate Jaggers has resigned her leadership position of the Highland Park Public Library in order to become the deputy director of the Hunterdon County Public Library System, effective January 6, 2023. Kate joined the library just a few weeks before the pandemic forced its closing in early 2020. Despite the circumstances, she readily shut down the physical plant but found innovative ways to sustain services online, outdoors and contactless, including through rejoining Libraries of Middlesex Automated Consortium (LMxAC). Kate also spearheaded the library’s successful fundraising campaigns with record-breaking donations and celebrated the library’s 100th anniversary in 2022.
As director over the past 3 years, Kate accomplished many important goals including the review and updating of more timely and inclusive Library policies—most notably those related to Collection Development and Exhibits and Display. In addition, she actively sought out and acquired grants for expanded programming to attract new audiences. This year, she added to the library’s circulating collection to include jigsaw puzzles, seeds, laptops and hotspots. Beyond the building’s walls, Kate sought new opportunities to bring the library closer to the greater community, including a sustained presence at the Highland Park Farmers market and the HP Street Fair, expanded work with the schools, extended programming through numerous local organizations, and deepened relationships with the leadership of the Borough and community groups. In the fall, she organized community conversations that led to the completion of an updated strategic plan.
Among the biggest challenges facing our library director was a major flood following Hurricane Ida, just weeks after reopening from the pandemic. Kate not only navigated that major reconstruction effort seamlessly, she also expanded library hours to seven days and 3 evenings per week, and eliminated penalties for late returns that inhibit public access and use. In addition, Kate managed the successful receipt of a major building grant from the NJ Library Construction Bond Fund that will allow the library to move ahead with much needed repairs and renovations. Amidst these achievements, Kate proudly served as president of the New Jersey Library Association.
The Highland Park Public Library Board applauds Kate’s visionary leadership reimagining library services at a difficult time. We appreciate her fine contributions and will move ahead immediately to fill the directorship with another capable leader. We appreciate the support we have received from the community during the last 3 years and look forward to expanding the library’s presence and involvement with the Highland Park community.