Amigos Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Juergens to Retire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2016
Printable version of this press release. (pdf)

Amigos Library Services announced today that Bonnie Juergens, President and Chief Executive Officer since 1989, will retire from her position effective January 13, 2017.

Craig Stephenson, Chair of Amigos Board of Directors, in accepting Bonnie's formal notification, stated "Bonnie's leadership and vision have been indispensable to the success of Amigos during the past twenty-plus years. She has established a high standard for performance in the leadership role and has set the stage for Amigos' future." Stephenson, who in his day job serves as City Manager of the City of Ponca City, OK, speaks from his own multiple-term tenure as an Independent Director. "I have consistently observed that members of various Amigos Boards have tremendous respect and admiration for Bonnie’s abilities to lead the organization in – shall we say -- intricate times."

Juergens held staff positions such as trainer, associate director, director of operations, and interim executive director prior to being appointed Executive Director in 1989. Employment in both academic and public libraries, as well as experience in the vendor community and as an independent consultant, helped prepare her for her career as leader of one of the country’s largest multi-type library consortia.

An industry leader, Amigos serves member libraries in 22 states and provides services to non-member libraries nationally and internationally. Juergens has guided the organization with a steady hand, leading Amigos through extensive changes in the library consortium environment. "She consistently displays excellent leadership skills and always manages to stay positive and upbeat," said Sara Lowman, University Librarian at Rice University and a former Chair of the Amigos Board of Directors. Significant strategic actions under Juergens' leadership have included merger with the Missouri Library Network Corporation and expansion of a member e-resource discount program that saves members over $5M collectively each year. She also led the development of an interstate courier program and the Amigos eShelf℠ Service, juxtaposing the continuing role of paper-based information-sharing with the brave new world of providing e-books for users of member libraries.

"It has been a privilege to work with colleagues in Amigos libraries over many years," said Juergens. "Observing their commitment to the ideals and ethics of librarianship inspires me. That, along with the excellence of the Amigos staff and the continuing commitment of Amigos Board members as the individuals on the Board change, has made my tenure as President and CEO of this great membership organization a professional pleasure."

Chair Stephenson will lead a blue-ribbon CEO Selection Task Force on behalf of the Board and members of Amigos. Information about the timeline and search process will be shared by the Task Force soon.

About Amigos Library Services
Amigos is one of the largest consortia of libraries and cultural heritage institutions in the United States. For more than 40 years, Amigos members have collaborated to obtain affordable services and shared library resources and knowledge. Through membership in Amigos, libraries collectively gain access to the latest innovations and services in the library community; pursue opportunities for continuing professional education; leverage their buying power; and provide access to e-books through the eShelf℠ service. This collaboration strengthens each member's ability to serve and lead its community in the creative and effective use of information resources.