Facilities Assistant Director, Region Manager and Library Foundation Director Assumed Roles Jan. 4
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 26, 2016 – The Jacksonville Public Library welcomed three new people to its senior staff effective Jan. 4, 2016. All bring years of experience and effective leadership skills from previous careers to help accomplish the library’s mission.
Heath Keller, a Jacksonville native, was appointed as the library’s new assistant director for facilities management and planning. Keller has a strong background in construction and facilities management and most recently served as the senior facility manager for a 1.3 million squarefoot retail shopping center in Clearwater, Florida.
Keller received a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Ocean County College in Toms River, New Jersey. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100 Ton Master Maritime license, and is a member of the International Facility Manager Association. Keller will report to Library Director Barbara Gubbin.
Relocating to Jacksonville where she has family, Sara Roberts has begun her role as the Pablo Creek Region Manager, overseeing the Pablo Creek Regional Library, as well as the Beaches, Regency Square and University Park branch libraries. Roberts served as Deputy Director of the Ventura County Library System in California, where she oversaw operations and services for 11 neighborhood libraries. She managed a $7 million budget and staff of 85, developed a joint partnership with the Museum of Ventura County library, and supervised the eLibrary. Prior to her directorship, Roberts was a Senior City Librarian for the Ventura library system, overseeing three branches, and creating programs and services based on community needs. She held previous positions at Chattanooga State Community and Dalton State colleges. Roberts holds a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Alabama, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching and a bachelor’s degree from Georgia College & State University. Roberts has been published in several publications and authors a blog on management. She serves on the program committee for the Library Leadership & Management Association, a division of the American Library Association. Roberts will report to Julie McNeil, assistant director for public services.
Michael James “Jamie” Self, Ed.D., is the new Director of Development for the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation, the philanthropic organization founded to provide financial support to enhance the important work of the library. As a marketing and communications consultant in the Orange Park area for more than 10 years, Self provided technical writing, business planning, and media and marketing services to smalland mediumsized businesses. Self has 15 years in the nonprofit sector and worked as director of education for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Bartow, Florida, and as the regional administrator for Florida Baptist Children’s Homes in Lakeland. Self has a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University; a Master of Arts in MFT Systems Theory, Oral Roberts University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, University of North Florida. He has served as a board member for the Heartland for Children organization and for the Southeastern University School of Social Work. Self will report to Library Director Barbara Gubbin.
The positions filled were vacated by previous employees in 2015.
About the Jacksonville Public Library
The mission of the Jacksonville Public Library is to enrich lives, build community and foster success by bringing people, information and ideas together. Last year, more than 3.4 million visits were made to Jacksonville Public Libraries, items were checked out more than 5.9 million times, and nearly 11,000 programs and services were offered to Duval County residents at the Main Library and 20 branch locations. For more information about the Jacksonville Public Library, call 630BOOK (2665) or visit jaxpubliclibrary.org.
