Noah Glaude, assistant director for the North Olympic Library System since May 2016, is the organization’s new top administrator.

Glaude was appointed executive director by the NOLS Board of Trustees, library officials announced last week.

Glaude succeeds Margaret Jakubcin, who will retire in July after a 13-year stint with NOLS.

“Despite the challenges currently facing our community, and the difficulties that lie ahead as we navigate those together, I know NOLS is on solid ground,” Glaude said in a May 15 press release. “I’m excited to continue improving and enhancing services the library offers.”

Following Jakubcin’s announcement in December 2019 that she planned to retire, library trustees surveyed library staff about the trajectory of NOLS and leadership attributes they’d like to see in the next director. Staff opened the position with a national recruitment before selecting Glaude in late March.

“In hindsight, the timing of this recruitment decision was very fortunate,” Jakubcin said in a press release. “The Board concluded the recruitment activities and made the job offer just before the severity of the pandemic became fully apparent.

“The timing of the board’s decision has allowed NOLS to move forward with a sense of confidence and certainty during a time that has in so many other ways been full of uncertainty.”

Glaude, who lives with his wife and two children in Port Angeles, will make $94,200 a year when he assumes his new position.

Glaude, 35, has been active in developing community partnerships and expanding the library’s calendar of programs and events, NOLS representatives said.

He played a leadership role on the library’s management team, expanded NOLS’ professional development program, and coordinated several capital improvement projects for NOLS. He was a core member of the Sequim Branch Future Library project and led several projects to improve public services such as elimination of overdue fines in 2019, NOLS officials said.

“In his nine years with NOLS, Noah has held a variety of positions in different departments, allowing him to develop a breadth of knowledge of the inner workings of a multi-branch rural library system,” Jennifer Pelikan, NOLS Board of Trustees Chair, said.

“During his interview, Noah said that he knew early in his career that public libraries were where he wanted to be,” Pelikan said. “His combination of energy, experience, and dedication is exactly what NOLS, and Clallam County, need at this time.”

Glaude has an executive master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington. He joined the NOLS team in 2011, and during the last nine years has filled a series of progressively more responsible positions at NOLS.

His previous library experience included four years of work in University of Washington libraries.