The Louisville Free Public Library has began searching for a new director after its longtime leader announced his retirement.
Craig Buthod, the library system's director since 1998, will retire by the end of the year, LFPL announced Friday in a news release. Mayor Greg Fischer has appointed a search committee to find his replacement.
"For 42 years I’ve gone to work every day in a library, a place where I could engage with smart people pursuing their education, and I could learn something myself every day. What could be better than that?" Buthod said in a statement.
In a statement, Mayor Greg Fischer praised Buthod's work, including the creation of e-book programs and the formation of the How-To Festival. The library system under Buthod also launched afacilities master plan and increased its use of technology.
The Louisville Free Public Library's current annual budget is $17 million.
"Every day for 42 years, I’ve gone to work in a library, which is where I might have been spending my time, anyway. I don’t think many people get to say that," Buthod told WFPL.
