Read all about it! Nancy Kerr is the newest director at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library and she definitely knows her stuff. Nancy, who started the job in June, has worked in libraries in Illinois, California, Washington state, and most recently in Longmont, Colorado. When she’s not deep into a good book, she enjoys being with her family and dogs, cooking, working on her house, and finding antiques and flea markets. 

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I’m enjoying Midwestern friendliness, the beautiful landscape and this community
which really supports libraries and the arts. 

NANCY KERR

DIRECTOR, L.E. PHILLIPS MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY

What are you passionate about?

Reading and libraries, family, dogs, cooking, working on our house, antiques and flea markets,  and small towns.

What is the most rewarding part of your field?

Providing access to comfortable spaces, books, movies, music, art, technology, community engagement, programs, and education – all free of charge. It is my privilege to head an amazing, resilient team of coworkers.

What impact does/do you hope the library makes on the Chippewa Valley community?

I hope people feel proud of this space built with their comfort and needs in mind, and that they enjoy not only the materials but the experience of being here interacting with other members of the community.

What part of town have you never visited (and why)?

We’ve driven through all of Eau Claire and much of the surrounding area. We pick a direction every weekend and drive until we find something interesting.  

On your death bed, choose one meal from a local restaurant, what would it be?

Probably a chocolate almond croissant and coffee from The Nostalgic Bean in Altoona.  Anything on the breakfast menu at The Nucleus.

What place in town considers you a “regular”?

Probably the grocery stores, Mancino’s (for their grinders).

What is something that you’d like to add to the library? (Something realistic or unrealistic!)

We’ve had a lot of requests for a coffee shop and more parking!

Nancy’s Shoutouts

Newly remodeled library. After a year and $18.5 million of renovations, The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library reopened its doors in September with plenty of amazing new features.

White squirrels. White squirrels are either white morphs or albino squirrels, and are often found on the eastern side of the country. Nancy is shouting them out because she had never seen them until she moved back to the area.

The new children’s museum. Nancy says she is excited to take her granddaughter to the new Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, which will open in early January.