Jacob Mickelsen
Jacob Mickelsen, Executive Director of the Carbon County Library System is leaving Wyoming for Colorado to become Loveland Public Library’s new Operations and Customer Service Manager. His last day with the library will be January 3.
“My time as director proved to be as rewarding as it was challenging,” Jacob said. “Now that we have a beautiful new facility in Rawlins and are on a stable financial and administrative footing, it was time for me to look for something new.”
Jacob is a Wyoming native, born in Casper and raised in Riverton, where he began his library career at the Riverton Branch Library. He moved to Carbon County to take a position as the Saratoga Branch Manager before becoming director in 2016. He took the helm during a difficult year for the library system when it was facing significant funding issues and struggling to maintain its seven branches.
“I’m most proud of the team we have and the way all of us have been able to work together to continue to provide quality, accessible, and up to date library services even in our rather rural part of the world,” he said. “Things were tough for a while, and still are in many ways, but as always, people are our strongest asset, and I am immeasurably proud of the people I have worked with.”
Jacob was active in the state’s library community and is currently on the Wyoming Library Association Executive Board as Past President. He served as President the 2019-2020 year.
“I will forever be grateful to the Wyoming library community,” he said. “From the folks at the state library and our larger systems to those in counties with just a few thousand people in them, if you pick up the phone they are not just willing but happy to help.
“I think we really have something special here, and it is thanks to all of you that we have it. Keep up the good work, fight the good fight, and remember that what we do matters. Also don’t forget to take care of yourselves. We can’t serve our patrons the way we should if we aren’t looking after ourselves.”
He added, “I’ll miss you all, but you probably haven’t seen the end of me. I may wind up back in the state someday. In the meantime, if you’ve ever passing through Loveland, stop by the library and say hello!”