Seneca library board introduces a new director

The search for a new director at the Seneca Public Library ended with the hiring of Yana Serdyuk, who the board of trustees welcomed during its meeting Wednesday.

Board President Paula Freepartner said Serdyuk’s first day was Aug. 25 and she’s been making things easier with each and every day.

Seneca residents have been asking the board hire an experienced, well-educated director, and Serdyuk has a masters degree in library science from Ukraine, which has been validated by the University of Illinois, along with an MBA from Concordia University.

Serdyuk has been the director at Concordia University’s library as well as in Lisle and in Glenside.

The board also introduced a new member after Dawn Greco submitted her letter of resignation.

It introduced Anne Barsi as her replacement, which has a different look now than it did just two months ago.

Carolyn Kinsella has been appointed as the board secretary and Rich Applebee has joined as a trustee, replacing Amy Victor and Heather Jenkins.

Board member Margi Weber said the community has played an important role in pulling back the curtain on the issues the library needed to address, which includes issues that led to the firing of former Library Director Margie Nolan.

“We are dedicated in our efforts to take advantage of the opportunity that we now have to begin the process of (addressing the library’s issues),” Weber said. “I believe that the library board, staff and community are coming together and seeing the potential we have here at our library and I’m excited about the future.”

Board President Paula Freepartner said the board could not comment on an allegation brought forth by a resident the board was served a subpoena from the Illinois State Police.