Longtime city library director retires

The city of La Grande is looking for volunteers to serve on a search team to help select the next director of the F. Maxine and Thomas W. Cook Memorial Library.

The city announced Tuesday that Jo Cowling, who has been with the city since Jan. 15, 1984, is retiring.

The search team will include the La Grande Library Commission, one or two members of the current library staff, one member of the La Grande Community Library Foundation, one member of the city council, the library director of Eastern Oregon University, the city’s Community and Economic Development director and one to three at-large city residents.

The search team will review and rate applicants, participate in interviews and ultimately provide the city manager with a list of three unranked candidates from which he will select one to fill the position.

The team will likely meet during the early morning, before the library opens, but specific times and dates will be dependent upon the availability of the group.

Those who are interested in serving on the search team are asked to prepare a letter answering the following two questions: How would you describe the ideal library director for the city of La Grande? Why would you be the best choice to serve on the search team?

Letters should be submitted to City of La Grande, Attention Robert Strope, City Manager, P.O. Box 670, La Grande 97850.

Responses should be limited to three pages in length and turned in by Sept. 10.

Applicants should include name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address.

For more information, contact Strope at 962-1309 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

During her tenure, Cowling was instrumental in many key initiatives that continue to benefit library patrons.

Those include the thriving Literacy Program and the formation of the La Grande Community Library Foundation.

Strope said Cowling’s commitment extends beyond the city of La Grande, as evidenced by her work with other organizations in the region.

She worked in partnership with Eastern Oregon University and the Baker County Library District to establish the first automated and shared library catalog which now boasts over 80 libraries in eastern Oregon.

She was also instrumental in the formation of Libraries of Eastern Oregon, LEO, and has served as the board chair for many years.

She is a past president of the Eastern Oregon Library Association and has served on the Public Libraries Division of the Oregon Library Association.