It may seem like Kansas’ public libraries are fighting “an uphill battle” to Roger Carswell at times. But, according to the Friends of Kansas Libraries, he’s doing a stand-up job.
Carswell, director of the Southeast Kansas Public Library System and the Iola Public Library, was recently awarded the Duane Johnson Library Leadership Award. Named after the former state librarian, the award recognizes top-notch leadership in libraries statewide.
“I was surprised,” Carswell said Monday afternoon. The award recipient is selected by a private board, and no nominations are given.
Carswell said the award meant a lot to him, as an affirmation of his work and the library system in general. He also said he is in good company with former recipients.
“There are people I respect very highly,” Carswell said as he looked over his award. It will hang on his wall for the next year, until next year’s recipient is awarded. He is the tenth recipient.
CARSWELL moved to Iola in 1992 from Pittsburg. He received his master’s degree in library sciences from Emporia State University in 1983.
The recognition of Carswell’s work represents a long list of accomplishments since he entered into the Kansas library system 21 years ago. Most recently, Carswell’s successes have come in the face of adversity.
“It’s a very huge uphill battle,” Carswell said of the state of libraries in Kansas.
He said state funding has been cut nearly in half since the recession swept across the country in 2008. Even after the economy rebounded, he said the libraries have not seen any return to their funding. Carswell is a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee, which lobbies in support of Kansas libraries in the state legislature.
“Instead of restoring it (the funding), the legislature has cut it further,” he said. “The state library itself has been weakened.”
Carswell said the state library supported education and training for librarians and library directors in the past, and now that role falls upon the seven regional library systems.
“There has been a void in training for, in particular, new library directors,” he said. In addition, he said the state library used to publish the Kansas Public Library Handbook. Now, that burden falls upon the regional systems as well.
“The system has had to take up the slack,” Carswell said.
