Sarah Clevidence, Assistant Director, to become Library Director, January 2020
At their October 8th meeting, the Board of Trustees of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library approved the retirement of Library Director Jeff Winkle, effective January 10, 2020. The Trustees named Sarah Clevidence, the current Assistant Director, as the next Library Director effective January 11, 2020.
Mrs. Clevidence has served at the library since 1996, starting while in high school at an entry level Page position. During her career she has worked in the Media Services, Children’s Services, and Adult Services departments, as well as in Library Administration. Mrs. Clevidence has a B.S. in Economics from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Library and Information Science Degree from Kent State University.
Mrs. Clevidence has been very active with the Ohio Library Council. She has served as the Chair for various committees and events and was recently elected to the organization’s Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning in January 2020. In 2016, Mrs. Clevidence was awarded the Ohio Library Council’s Diana Vescelius Emerging Leader Award.
Mrs. Clevidence is the recently elected President of the Findlay Kiwanis Club and is a member of the Hancock Literacy Board of Directors. She is a 2016 graduate of Hancock Leadership. “I love our library and I believe the services we provide every day are important and can be life- changing. We have a dedicated Board of Trustees, a tremendous staff and a wonderful community. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with all of them as we build the future of the library.”
Mr. Winkle joined the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library in 1999 serving as Extension Services Manager and then Assistant Director. He left the library in 2005 for brief stints as Director of the public libraries in Fostoria and Tiffin before returning to Findlay as Library Director in 2009. Prior to his library career, he owned and operated Winkle’s Open Book, a local bookstore, for 20 years.
During Mr. Winkle’s tenure, the library increased its focus on early literacy, career development resources and assistance, and a strong customer service culture. Since 2011, the library added an Early Literacy Center, created a StoryWalk in Riverside Park, increased the children’s book collections and started the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Winkle was recently named 2019 Librarian of the Year by the Ohio Library Council.
“It was a privilege to work with the library staff to serve the residents of our county-wide community. This is a wonderful group of hard-working, dedicated people. Under Sarah’s leadership, I know the staff and library will flourish.”
