The Fort Worth Public Library is turning a new page as Midori Clark, a seasoned library veteran with a treasure trove of experience in community building and fundraising, has been tapped as the new director. After an exhaustive nationwide expedition to find the successor of Manya Shorr, who stepped down, Clark emerged as the bibliophilic beacon set to lead the charge, according to the City of Fort Worth.
Clark, whose library leadership lore spans from overseeing an extensive network in the City of Aurora, where she managed seven libraries and a flotilla of cultural institutions, to pioneering strategic initiatives in Pueblo, Colo., is poised to infuse her strategic magic into the Fort Worth backdrop starting January 2. Assistant City Manager Jesica McEachern, in a statement brimming with enthusiasm for Clark's impending tenure, cited her "wealth of experience and vast knowledge" in the profession as part of the rousing welcome.
With stakes high and expectations higher, Clark is inheriting a robust community asset that boasts over 1.3 million checkouts and nearly 500,000 visitors, as her track record in Aurora, which includes not just a library system but also a museum and historic sites, has well prepared her for the task.
"I am excited to support and work with such dedicated public servants," Clark said, detailing her anticipation to join a team that, day in and day out, dedicates itself to uplifting the community and, making it clear that her honor to be at the helm of such a pivotal institution is indeed as profound as the literary collections it houses, per the City of Fort Worth.
