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Go to list of articles about Deborah L. Jacobs

Deborah L. Jacobs arrived in 1997 as The Seattle Public Library's new city librarian. In her first five months on the job, she developed a $235 million comprehensive plan to nearly double the space in the 22 branches and replace the downtown library. Her commitment to the plan and her extensive work in every neighborhood resulted in overwhelming public support for the tax measure. At the time, the Libraries for All bond measure was the largest ever approved in the nation - and by a nearly 70 percent majority.

Shortly after the victory at the polls, Jacobs and the Library Board began to seek additional funds needed to complete all the building projects. Bill and Melinda Gates came forward with a $20 million gift, which kicked off an incredible $77.5 million fund-raising campaign by the Seattle Public Library Foundation. The foundation is at $72 million of its goal.

As city librarian, Jacobs supervises nearly 600 staff members (442 full-time equivalents) with an annual operating budget of $32 million. She provides leadership in planning, organizing and guiding library operations to serve the informational, education, cultural and recreational needs of the residents and organizations of the city of Seattle. Jacobs came to Seattle from the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, where, as library director, she rebuilt branches ahead of schedule and under budget. She successfully championed increased funding for libraries across Oregon and gained national attention for building library collections and connecting with the community.

Jacobs was honored with the Public Employee of the Year Award by the Municipal League of King County in 1999. That same year she was selected "Manager of the Year" by the city of Seattle Management Association and was named to the 30th Anniversary Honor Roll of the American Library Association Office for the Intellectual Freedom and the Freedom to Read Foundation.

In 1998 she was awarded the Intellectual Freedom Champion Award by the Oregon Library Association and The Seattle Times' editorial board recognized Jacobs as an individual "who added measurably to the quality of life in the Puget Sound Region."

Jacobs was named Library Journal's Librarian of the Year in 1994, selected Oregon Librarian of the Year for 1993-94 and was president of the Oregon Library Association from 1992-1993.

Articles about Deborah Jacobs

City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs receives intellectual freedom award Dec. 27, 2001
Proclamation by Seattle City Council thanking Deborah L. Jacobs. Nov. 13, 2001. (.pdf format)
Check out librarian's newest title. Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, Nov. 5, 2001.
Recognition overdue: Seattle's trophy librarian . Seattle Times, Nov. 3, 2001.
Seattle Public Library's Deborah L. Jacobs honored as one of nine top public officials in nation for 2001. Press release, Oct. 31, 2001.
Seattle reboots its future. Fast Company Magazine, May 2001.
Best of the Sound '98: Civil, yet tough enough. Seattle Times, Jan. 1, 1999.
How the Seattle Public Library got its groove back. Seattle Times, Feb. 7, 1999.
New librarian toiled all year on bond issue. Seattle Times, Nov. 8, 1998.
Love of libraries keeps her pages turning. Seattle times, Feb. 17, 1998.
Seattle's new librarian. Seattle Times, Oct. 3, 1997.

Content modified: 23 April 2003

04/23/2003