By Mary Beth Almond
C & G Staff Writer

BIRMINGHAM — After eight years of service, Marti Custer will leave her position as executive director of the Baldwin Public Library Nov. 30.

“It’s been really stressful the past few years, and I’ve decided that I need to get on with my life and stop letting this dominate it,” Custer said.

The fact that the Library Board and the City Commission have been at odds about who has control over the library’s annual operating millage since last year was a large contributor to Custer’s stress levels.

“Although it didn’t directly impact me, the governance issue between the Library Board and the City Commission created a very difficult environment,” she said.

Putting the stresses aside, Custer said she is proud of all the work she’s done at the library during her tenure.

When Custer first accepted the job, she said, the library’s staff was “unmotivated and unhappy.”

Now, the library has a “wonderful” staff, and meets the needs the community through increased technology and programming for all ages. She said the library’s statistical indicators have also greatly improved since she arrived.

“There’s a national service that rates libraries for efficiency — The Hennen’s American Public Libraries Ratings — and when I arrived, the library was on the 73rd percentile. Last year, we were at 95.4. This year, we just found out we’re ranked 97 on a national level for efficiency, and we’re three times busier than the average Michigan library. Each month we continue to set new highs for circulation,” Custer said.

In a prepared statement, Baldwin Library Board Chair Ann Conigliaro said she had “mixed emotions” about the announcement, and noted the many contributions Custer has made to the library.

“Martha’s contributions and leadership (have) improved the quality of the library and the many programs it offers to the community. While we will miss her and the skills that she has brought to the job, Martha has assembled a talented staff team and incorporated solid operational practices during her eight-year tenure,” she said in the statement.

As for the future, Custer said she and her husband — who currently live in Rochester Hills — plan to relax and travel, but she said continuing her life in the workforce sometime in the future isn’t out of the question.

“What’s been amazing is that I’ve been contacted by people who have all sorts of other ideas about other jobs that I could do, so I don’t know. I certainly feel like I need to take some time off, and whether or not I take another job is very much in question,” she said.

Custer said she really loves the Baldwin Public Library and said it will always be “near and dear” to her heart.

“I think Birmingham is a great community and I have only the best wishes for the future of the library,” she said.

The search for a new director will begin immediately, and will focus on “individuals who understand the rich heritage of the Baldwin Public Library and the contributions it must make,” according to Conigliaro.

In her prepared statement, Conigliaro went on to say, “We will use the opportunity to look anew at our partnerships, community outreach and operations as we continue to meet the diverse needs of our community. We appreciate the support of the community in the work we do as we strive to perpetuate the treasured traditions of the Baldwin Public Library, especially during these challenging times.”

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at malmond@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1060.