A Familiar Face to Lead the Library Foundation
December 2018
Writer // Janelle Morrison Photography // Courtesy of the Zionsville Library
The Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library (HMMPL) Foundation Board recently announced the selection of Zionsville resident Tracy Phillips as the new Library Foundation Director.
Phillips comes to the role with more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, most recently as the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.
“Tracy has a lifelong love of the library and brings a broad base of development and relationship-building experience that the Foundation was seeking,” said Foundation Board President Monty Korte. “Her many years of development success with the Chamber and the Zionsville Education Foundation make us eager to begin working with her.”
Phillips’ creativity, enthusiasm and knowledge about the community set her apart and convinced the Board that she will help them realize their goals and enable the Library to continue to provide exceptional service to the rapidly growing Zionsville community.
The Library Foundation supports the mission of the Library and ensures its longevity by funding major initiatives and distinct projects. The programs and services that HMMPL offers its patrons are made possible because of the dedication and fundraising efforts of the Foundation. The Foundation supports the mission of the library by providing grants that fund major initiatives and projects like “United We Read,” Mobile Outreach Station, Library Wireless Network, Library Catalog Stations, the Winter and Summer Reading programs, the Crackerjack Book Program and other programs that serve our community.
The Foundation Board’s focus is primarily on raising awareness and developing a donor base, so it can continue to promote the mission of the library.
“Having worked in the nonprofit field for 28 years, education and literacy have always been a piece of my career story,” Phillips said. “I believe that the Foundation Board thought my experiences would be valuable to the position, but for me personally, I am so excited to have a mission-based 501(c)(3) to champion. It’s the perfect fit.”
Phillips shared that the Foundation Board discussed their upcoming strategic plan with her, which they anticipate rolling out in January, hence the need to have her begin before the end of the year.
“They wanted me to start the first week of December, so I could hit the ground running and be ready for the strategic plan in January,” Phillips emphasized. “The Foundation has always served an important role in providing grants and support to the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library. The programs that the Foundation supports are some of the library’s most important and certainly the most popular programs that the public gets to enjoy. As the community continues to grow and the need for additional programming expands, the Foundation is poised to continue to support that growth and, again, is being very strategic going forward, which is why they brought on a part-time position that is exclusive to the Foundation. I am excited to have filled that position and start the next chapter of my career.”
Individuals and organizations who are interested in learning more about the Foundation and the library initiatives/programs that it funds can visit the library’s website at zionsvillelibrary.org.