The Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Chatham-Kent Public Library Board have hired Heidi Wyma as CEO/Chief Librarian of the Chatham-Kent Public Library (CKPL).
"Heidi's experience at both CKPL and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, as well as her connections with the wider public library community, mean that she is knowledgeable of the climate within which public libraries operate today and is well-placed to ensure that libraries continue to play a vital role in building community culture and connections," Director of Community Culture & Connections for Chatham-Kent, Audrey Ansell said.
Ansell told CK News Today that the CKPL is well-placed for the future due to a strong foundation and a range of "services and spaces that evolve to meet residents' needs."
The public library is present in 11 communities across Chatham-Kent. Ansell referred to the library branches as "welcoming spaces and community hubs."
"The library offers a wide range of materials and residents can not only borrow books and movies, they also have access to extensive virtual resources too," Ansell explained.
"Add on a range of programming – from colouring to chess club and movies to spice club – that is available with a library card to users of all ages, and it's clear that CKPL is very much part of Chatham-Kent’s community culture," she added.
Ansell believes that Wyma will continue to build on the quality library service developed by outgoing Chief Librarian, Tania Sharpe.
"The library's success is in no small part thanks to collaboration among the team, and being familiar with many of them having spent 13 years working at CKPL, Heidi will continue with this spirit," she added.
Wyma has a Master of Library and Information Science from Western University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Ottawa. She has been on several local boards and committees and has been working with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent since August 2009.
Wyma will replace Sharpe, who is retiring after 30 years, as of December 1, 2023.