Boerne's Patrick Heath Public Library is set to turn a new page as Natalie Shults steps in as the new library director, a position left vacant by the retirement of Kelly Skovbjerg. According to an announcement on the city's website, Shults is gearing up to take charge on June 3 and bring a fresh perspective to the library's services.
The city's top brass seems to be excited about the new hire, with City Manager Ben Thatcher affirming his confidence in Shults. "We are more than excited to welcome Natalie as the new director of the library," Thatcher said in a statement obtained by the city's press release. "She brings a wealth of invaluable experience in building community partnerships and programs that will serve library patrons well, and help the City achieve its goal of building an exemplary Hill Country community with high quality, customer-focused services."
Shults' resume includes a stint as the director of the Tye Preston Memorial Library in Canyon Lake, where she was lauded for her strategic planning and community engagement. "I want to be somewhere that understands how important history and roots are but does not discount that the ever-changing needs of the community are just as important," Shults told the city's communication team about her commitment to addressing both tradition and innovation within the library's role.
Her background also includes a role as a virtual services librarian at the Schertz Public Library, where she managed the library’s digital presence and offerings. Shults' educational credentials include a Master of Science in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University, and an undergraduate degree in English from Florida Atlantic University, which presumably have prepared her for the challenges of her upcoming role in Boerne.
The nationwide hunt for the ideal candidate was exhaustive, the search conducted by Strategic Government Resources (SGS) reviewed 18 applicants and narrowed it down to four for in-person interviews before Shults' expertise won out. As the Patrick Heath Public Library continues to offer a range of services and programming to the Boerne and Kendall County residents, all eyes will be on how Shults' leadership will guide this crucial community institution into its next chapter.
