New Library Director Looks to Keep Up With Changes

Pete Loeffel doesn't look like a guy who would have nearly 18 years' experience in libraries, but the youthful new director of the Muskego Public Library has served at the St. Francis Public Library, and also held a post in Shorewood as their library's tech manager, before taking the helm here.

Loeffel met with Patch on Wednesday, and he said Muskego's Library has a lot going for it.

"This is a beautiful facility, and it's located close to the heart of the community," Loeffel said."The city itself has a lot to offer as well, with a wealth of recreational facilities."

However, the challenges of changing technology and how people seek information have placed Muskego's library along with others to remain the place to go in a community to get that information.

"We've done things like incorporating the interest in Cleopatra at the (Milwaukee Public) museum, as well as bringing in guest speakers like historian John Gurda to capture people's attention," he explained. Outreach programs like this will be a focus going forward, he said.

In addition, the advent of eReaders and eBooks have been embraced by libraries; many have also joined in on a smart phone app called OverDrive, Muskego among them. The library is part of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium in this platform, which helps provide a wide array of titles at the tip of your fingers.

Local library systems have seen the strength in numbers, and Loeffel said the CAFE system that Muskego is part of includes nearly all of the Waukesha County libraries, granting cardholders access to the media at locations throughout the county without having to visit them. (Menomonee Falls and New Berlin are not currently in the system, but will eventually come on board.) 

Recent surveys from patrons have also helped the library focus its efforts on responding to the needs of the community.

"Libraries should be now what they were created for in the beginning, and that is to be a sharing point of imagination and ideas," Loeffel said. "To accomplish that, we need to respond to what the community is looking for."

Loeffel will be officially welcomed at a reception at the library on Tuesday, April 17 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., just prior to the library board meeting. The public is welcome to attend.