Gresham Smith is proud to announce that former library director Pat Losinski has joined the firm’s Life and Work Places market as senior advisor, library services.
Over his four decades in libraries, Losinski has served as executive director of public libraries in Illinois, Ohio and Colorado. He most recently served as chief executive officer of the Columbus Metropolitan Library System. Throughout his career, he led 29 library building projects, including extensive remodels, expansions, historic preservations and new library buildings. He has also served on the state library boards in Illinois and Colorado and chaired the Urban Libraries Council Board.
“We’re thrilled to have Pat join our civic architecture practice,” says Jeff Kuhnhenn, AIA, LEED AP, director of architectural design at Gresham Smith. “As a former library director, he understands the issues our clients face, and he will bring great insights to our team as we look to assist public libraries with their buildings, operations and customer service needs.”
Losinski has extensive experience with library governance, funding, library board relations and operational innovation. While leading the Columbus Metro Library System, he led the passage of multiple permanent operating levies and a $300 million capital improvement plan to secure funding for 20 new or remodeled library buildings. He helped elevate the national profile of the Columbus Metro Library, including being named the No. 1 public library in the nation three times by Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings and Library of the Year by Library Journal. During his time as CEO, the library also received the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s highest honor for institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.
Previously, Losinski served as executive director of the Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the library director of the Warren-Newport Public Library in Gurnee, Illinois; and the library director of the Port Clinton Public Library in Port Clinton, Ohio. In those roles, he led multiple capital campaigns, referendum efforts, and building and modernization programs.
An internationally renowned expert, he has spoken at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress, the Public Library Directors Symposium, the Knight Library Conference and a number of Library Journal conferences. He has been published in outlets such as the Library Journal, National Civic Review and Public Libraries.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Wisconsin – Steven’s Point and his Master of Arts degree in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
To hear more from Losinski about the current trends shaping libraries across America, read his Q&A about the future of public libraries.
