Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Westland Library Names New Director

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland Library Names New Director

Westland, MI (April 19, 2018) - The William P. Faust Public Library of Westland Board of Trustees has selected Ishwar Laxminarayan as its next Library Director effective June 11, 2018. Ishwar brings over 25 years of library experience, including 10 years as the Director of the Jackson District Library in Jackson, Michigan. The decision follows a nationwide search and finalist interviews on April 11, 2018.

At the Jackson District Library, Ishwar led a countywide library system that served a population of over 160,000 through a network of 13 branches. He has wide experience with library expansions, strategic planning, millage campaigns, and implementing collection, technology and programming enhancements.

Library Board President James Higgins said "We are excited to name Ishwar Laxminarayan to the position of Director of the William P. Faust Public Library of Westland. We believe with his unique experience in library leadership he has the vision to move the library forward. We are pleased that the staff and Library Board shared the same sentiment regarding the selection of Mr. Ishwar's as the Library Director."

Mr. Laxminarayan is eagerly looking forward to leading the William P. Faust Public Library of Westland and said " I am delighted at this opportunity to work with a great staff and dedicated trustees to provide the highest quality library services to the Westland Community."

"The Library Board conducted an extensive search for qualified candidates to assume the Library Director position," commented Mayor William R. Wild. "The board was unanimously impressed with Ishwar's qualifications and expertise and we look forward to him putting those skills to action here in Westland."

Ishwar possesses a Master of Librarianship from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and has attended the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program through a Public Library Association Fellowship award. He is a member of the American Library Association and Public Library Association.

A community gathering will be held at the Library to introduce Mr. Laxminarayan at a future date.

For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.