The Board of Directors of the Library System is pleased to announce the appointment of Karla Trout as the Library System’s Executive Director effective immediately. Trout takes the place of Bonnie Young who retired in December 31, 2018.
The announcement follows a national search by the LSLC Board of Directors. Christina Diehl, LSLC Board President, is optimistic that they have made the best choice, “While it’s hard to say goodbye to Bonnie Young, we are beyond excited to welcome Karla Trout to LSLC knowing that she possesses the ingenuity, experience, and tenacity to continue the progress we have been making. The Board foresees her being not only an asset to the county library system, but to the Lancaster community as a whole.”
Prior to joining the post as Executive Director of the Library System, she served as the executive director of the Adams County Library System, in Gettysburg. She began her library career in 2001 as President and CEO of Palmyra Public Library in Palmyra, Lebanon County. Before becoming a librarian, Karla worked in non-profit management in the health care industry, in information technology, and as a business process redesign consultant. She holds an AA in Business Administration from Harrisburg Area Community College and a BS in Management from York College of Pennsylvania. She earned her Master of Science in Library Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she was the Outstanding Graduate Student in 2005.
Trout also advocates actively in support of librarians and libraries through her work with the Pennsylvania Library Association and by co-chairing the Pennsylvania effort for the American Library Association’s National Library Legislative Day, held annually in Washington, DC.
She has a passion for creating functional, welcoming library spaces in a sustainable environment. As a participant in the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Planning and Design of Public Libraries course, and is a US Green Building Council LEED Green Associate, she has designed and built two libraries. She has also qualified as a Green Advantage Certified Associate, a certification usually reserved for construction tradespeople.
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