David L. Leamon
Encyclopedia
David Lee Leamon was a public library
administrator from the United States
.
. He earned his Master of Library Science
from Case Western University.
Leamon began his library career at Mid-Continent Public Library
in the Kansas City, Missouri
area. He next served at the Tulsa Public Library in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. He then served as a regional director for the Seattle Public Library
in Seattle, Washington
.
, Leamon oversaw the creation of the Jackson District Library, which combined the public libraries of Jackson, Brooklyn
, Spring Arbor and Springport
.
As director of the San Antonio Public Library
in San Antonio, Texas
from 1989–1992, Leamon worked closely with Ricardo Legorreta
during the construction of the landmark main library. He also oversaw the Hertzberg Circus Museum.
Leamon finished his career at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
in Topeka, Kansas
. During his time in Topeka, Leamon led the effort to create a new Library District. Leamon assisted in expanding the Library Foundation, including playing a major role in raising over $4 million in support of Library activities. He also oversaw the construction of the new main library which was designed by Michael Graves
Bookworm loves his new digs. While at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Leamon was honored with the naming of the David L. Leamon Circulation Lobby Library Dedicates Lobby.
In addition to his work as a library director, Leamon was active in the art community in every city where he lived. In Topeka, he was the leading force behind the creation of the Aaron Douglas
Mural Project.
On November 17, 2008, Leamon came out of retirement to take a job as the Executive Director of the Lawrence Arts Center
, a job which he kept until July 28, 2009.
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
administrator from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Education and early career
Leamon received his bachelor's degree with a double major in Fine Art and Theater from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MissouriWarrensburg, Missouri
Warrensburg is a city in Johnson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 16,340 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County. The Warrensburg Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Johnson County. It is home to the University of Central Missouri.-History:Warrensburg...
. He earned his Master of Library Science
Master of Library and Information Science
The Master of Library and Information Science is the master's degree that is required for most professional librarian positions in the United States and Canada. The MLIS is a relatively recent degree; an older and still common degree designation for librarians to acquire is the Master of Library...
from Case Western University.
Leamon began his library career at Mid-Continent Public Library
Mid-Continent Public Library
Mid-Continent Public Library is a consolidated public library system serving Clay, Platte, and Jackson Counties in Missouri, with headquarters in Independence, Missouri...
in the Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
area. He next served at the Tulsa Public Library in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. He then served as a regional director for the Seattle Public Library
Seattle Public Library
The Seattle Public Library is the public library system serving Seattle, Washington, USA. It was officially established by the city in 1890, though there had been efforts to start a Seattle library as early as 1868. There are 26 branches in the system, most of them named after the neighborhoods in...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.
Later career
While director of the Jackson Public Library in Jackson, MichiganJackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, Leamon oversaw the creation of the Jackson District Library, which combined the public libraries of Jackson, Brooklyn
Brooklyn, Michigan
Brooklyn is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,176. It is located just off U.S. Highway 12 Brooklyn (formerly Swainsville) is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village...
, Spring Arbor and Springport
Springport, Michigan
Springport is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 704. The village is located within Springport Township on M-99.-Geography:...
.
As director of the San Antonio Public Library
San Antonio Public Library
The San Antonio Public Library is a collection of a Central Library and 24 branch libraries that serve the City of San Antonio, Texas, USA. The library serves other cities in the area, including Alamo Heights, Hill Country Village, and Olmos Park.The Central Library is a , six-story structure that...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
from 1989–1992, Leamon worked closely with Ricardo Legorreta
Ricardo Legorreta
Ricardo Legorreta Vilchis is a Mexican architect. He was born in Mexico City on May 7, 1931. He was awarded the prestigious UIA Gold Medal in 1999 and the Praemium Imperiale in 2011.He studied architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México....
during the construction of the landmark main library. He also oversaw the Hertzberg Circus Museum.
Leamon finished his career at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library is a public library located in Topeka, Kansas. It serves all of Shawnee County, Kansas with the exception of the Rossville, Kansas and Silver Lake, Kansas townships. The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library is a municipal taxing district authorized by...
in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
. During his time in Topeka, Leamon led the effort to create a new Library District. Leamon assisted in expanding the Library Foundation, including playing a major role in raising over $4 million in support of Library activities. He also oversaw the construction of the new main library which was designed by Michael Graves
Michael Graves
Michael Graves is an American architect. Identified as one of The New York Five, Graves has become a household name with his designs for domestic products sold at Target stores in the United States....
Bookworm loves his new digs. While at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Leamon was honored with the naming of the David L. Leamon Circulation Lobby Library Dedicates Lobby.
In addition to his work as a library director, Leamon was active in the art community in every city where he lived. In Topeka, he was the leading force behind the creation of the Aaron Douglas
Aaron Douglas
Aaron Douglas was an African American painter and a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance.-Early life:...
Mural Project.
On November 17, 2008, Leamon came out of retirement to take a job as the Executive Director of the Lawrence Arts Center
Lawrence Arts Center
The Lawrence Arts Center was established in Lawrence, Kansas in May 1974 to support the visual and performing arts. The founder and first Executive Director was Ann Evans, who retired at the end of 2007. In 2002, the Center opened a new facility that included studios, gallery space, a performance...
, a job which he kept until July 28, 2009.