CHESTERTOWN — Robert Bell is the new executive director of the Kent County Public Library.
Bell’s hiring was announced in a news release Friday, Oct. 18.
He succeeds Arnessa Dowell, who served from January 2021 to April 2024 when she stepped down for another job opportunity.
According to the news release, Bell previously worked in academic and public libraries across the United States and abroad in China and Thailand for a total of about 20 years.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Ohio University, a master’s degree in film and television studies from the University of Southern California and a second master’s degree in information science from the University of Michigan.
Bell “looks forward to working with local organizations and members of the Kent County community to ensure that the Library continues to serve its patrons’ needs, and to expand the services, resources, and facilities of KCPL to address the ever-changing world,” the news release states.
He also encourages the community to share how the Kent County Public Library can best continue to serve its users through collections, programming and innovations for the future.