Lake Oswego Library Director Bill Baars Retires After 11 Years

LAKE OSWEGO, OR – It actually happened. Bill Baars retired.

When Baars announced in July that he would step down as director of the Lake Oswego Public Library, people hoped that he would change his mind. Then Oct. 1 came and it happened.

Baars, who ran the library for 11 years, is a life long resident of Lake Oswego and during his tenure at the library he helped build on the sense of community that he grew up with. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts.

He will perhaps be remembered for starting the Lake Oswego Reads program, which has become more popular each year since starting in 2007. In addition to that, he worked hard to establish partnership with other community organizations such as the Oswego Heritage Council, which the library helps digitize their collection.

Baars started at the library in 2002 as director of the adult services and reference sections. Before that he was the supervising library at the Beaverton City Library.

He arrived in Beaverton after a stint at the Multnomah County Central Library where, in 1985, he started his career in library services.

He is succeeded by Melissa Kelly who has spent the previous three years as the library's circulation manager. Before that, she was the director of the Canby Library.

Photo of Baars (left) with writer Ivan Doig via Lake Oswego Public Library.