As the new director, Jon Solomon has the background to help the Longmont Public Library as it grows.
Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Solomon earned a Master of Science degree from San Jose State University and has spent more than 20 years working in libraries. He has worked for the Englewood and Boulder public libraries, but most recently as the director of Riverside County Public Library System.
“I’m just very excited to be here,” he said. “Great town so far and all the staff here are truly wonderful, both library and city staff. It’s a good place to be.”
Solomon’s first day was Nov. 14, right as the Longmont’s library feasibility study was wrapping up. That study found that Longmont — at nearly 100,000 people — has significantly outgrown its library built for a city of 65,000, and addressing that issue is the new director’s biggest goal.
“Clearly Longmont’s well beyond that,” Solomon said. “The big goal there is how do we meet what the feasibility study recommends?”
The Riverside County Public Library System, where Solomon spent the last two and a half years, sits outside the greater Los Angeles area. It included 35 branches over 7,000 square miles, including three that opened during Solomon’s tenure over a span of just two months, so he’s well versed with constructing and opening new library locations.
“Going through building projects itself is helpful, and learning about what decisions were made there that are good and what decisions we could make here that might be different,” Solomon said.
He added that while he didn’t mind the big library system in Riverside, Solomon was ready for a slightly smaller system where he could get to know his staff better.
“Longmont’s a comfortable size for me — it’s a growing city but it’s also not overwhelming,” he said.
When it comes to building a new facility in the near future, Solomon wants to make sure Longmont is doing it in a way that makes sense, from location to services. As for the existing location, Solomon already has a vision for modernizing the library for the 21st century.
“The biggest thing is working with the library board and council and really getting out there and talking to the community about new library services, what people want and where they need them,” he said.
