Peter Pearson to Retire, Spend More Time with Library Strategies

After 25 years with The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, Peter Pearson is set to retire at the end of 2016. During his tenure as the President of The Friends, Pearson has grown the organization from a staff of two with an annual budget of $200,000 and a seven-member Board, to the entrepreneurial organization it is today: with a staff of 19, a budget surpassing $3 million per year, and a dynamic Board of 50 Trustees. During this time, The Friends has conducted three successful capital campaigns, taken on the Minnesota Book Awards, created the country’s premier book and author event—Opus & Olives—and launched a nationally recognized consulting company.

As the The Friends says ‘goodbye’ to a great leader and a renowned fundraiser, Library Strategies welcomes Pearson’s expanded role as a lead consultant, with more time to dedicate to our clients and projects. “I have truly treasured my time with The Friends and am extremely proud of the work we have accomplished over these past 25 years,” he admits, “but retirement won’t mean an end to my work with libraries.”

Library Strategies is thrilled about the wealth of knowledge and experience he will bring to our team and the libraries and library organizations we serve. Recognized as a national expert on all aspects of library fundraising, advocacy, and Friends and Foundations, he was elected to the American Library Association Advocacy Honor Roll in 2005. “I look forward to broadening my role with Library Strategies,” said Pearson. “I want to leverage my passion for libraries and learning to help strengthen communities across the country, one library at a time.”

Read more about Peter’s retirement plan and the search for The Friends’ new leadership.