ST CHARLES, Mo. — St. Charles City-County Library CEO Jason Kuhl is resigning to take a job with another library system, he said in an email sent to staff Friday.
In the email, Kuhl said he had been "involved in a recruitment process with another library," and was approved as that library's CEO on Thursday. His last day with the St. Charles City-County Library will be Nov. 4.
Kuhl's resignation comes months after protests from the community over his statements in May indicating the system would need to close three libraries.
In May, financial concerns and "challenges" led to a widely protested proposal in the district. The plan called for the closure of three branches and dozens of layoffs, potentially as early as June 30.
Community backlash quickly turned the administration's proposal upside down, and after the outcry the library's board of trustees unanimously passed a resolution to table the closure proposal indefinitely. The board said the vote would create a space for listening sessions to engage more with patrons and directed the administration to work with the board on new proposals to address financial issues.
Kuhl's statement did not say what library system hired him for his new job.
Khul provided the following statement Friday afternoon:
"I am honored and grateful to have been allowed to serve in this position for nearly seven years, and I am proud of the organization's accomplishments during that time. I was recently offered and accepted a position as CEO at a major library outside of Missouri. Going forward, I wish nothing but the best for the St. Charles City-County Library, its terrific staff, and the community."
