To: Board of Supervisors
From: Alison McKee, County Librarian
Report Title: Adopt Resolution in honor of Kimberli S. Buckley on the occasion of her retirement.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a Resolution in honor of Kimberli S. Buckley on the occasion of her retirement from Contra Costa County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
Please see attached resolution.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
N/A
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
body
In the matter of recognizing Kimberli S. Buckley on the occasion of her retirement after more than 18 years of service to Contra Costa County
WHEREAS, Kimberli Buckley first served Contra Costa County as a paralegal contractor for County Counsel from January 14, 2000, until September 21, 2001; and
WHEREAS, she began her service to Contra Costa County Library on September 26, 2005 as a part-time Clerk-Experienced Level at the Concord Library, later serving as a Permanent Intermittent Clerk-Experienced Level from November 1, 2006, until April 26, 2007; and
WHEREAS, Kimberli returned to Contra Costa County Library on May 2, 2011, as a part-time Library Assistant-Journey Level at the San Pablo Library. In this role, she reestablished connections with local schools, strengthened the Library’s partnership with the City of San Pablo, and organized highly attended community events. During this period, she also served as a long-term substitute at the Dougherty Station Library, where teen services flourished under her leadership; and
WHEREAS, on January 3, 2014, Kimberli was appointed as the temporary Community Library Manager of the San Pablo Library and was subsequently appointed as the Community Library Manager of the Oakley Library on March 1, 2014. Drawing on her extensive experience in a variety of library settings, she excelled in this new role and consistently demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, strong interpersonal skills, creativity, reliability, and flexibility; and
WHEREAS, on November 3, 2014, Kimberli was promoted to Senior Community Library Manager of the Pittsburg and Bay Point Libraries, where she continued to demonstrate excellence as she oversaw daily operations, launched new programs, revitalized existing services, and strengthened communication and support among staff; and
WHEREAS, Kimberli has served as the Senior Community Library Manager of Concord Library since July 6, 2015, dedicating over a decade to expanding the reach and impact of library services for Concord residents; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, she initiated the Concord Library’s participation in hosting National Night Out, promoting the library as a safe space in the community. Under her continued leadership, the event has grown into a highly attended annual tradition that fosters community engagement and deepens the library’s connection with the residents it serves; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, Kimberli launched “Coffee and Conversation,” a program connecting unhoused individuals with representatives from support organizations, fostering partnership with the County, the Concord community, and faith-based organizations. The program expanded to additional libraries in 2019; and
WHEREAS, from 2017 through 2018, she initiated and led the Manager’s Training Task Team, recruiting fellow managers and coordinating speakers and training sessions for 12 Monthly Managers’ Meeting sessions during that period. Through her leadership, the task team grew into the New Manager Training Team, which remains active and continues to support manager development today; and
WHEREAS, Kimberli presented "Celebrating Diversity & Multiculturalism through Crafts" at the California Library Association Conference in 2018, earning recognition from Infopeople, which later hosted an extended webinar based on her work; and
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Kimberli developed a video series for high school and college students that evolved into “Growing Up Is Hard: Library Adulting Programs Can Make It Easier,” later offered to librarians throughout California through Infopeople; and
WHEREAS, in 2020 and 2022, Kimberli led the planning and implementation of Concord Library refresh projects, strategically allocating limited funds to maximize community benefit. Through her advocacy, she secured the City of Concord’s funding for new carpeting and interior painting, resulting in significant improvements to the library environment for patrons and staff; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, she developed and delivered a presentation for Diablo Valley College’s Industry Insights program, sharing the history of Contra Costa County Library, providing insight into careers in public librarianship, and guiding library technician students through the County’s hiring process; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, Kimberli's careful planning, creative problem-solving, and collaborative leadership were instrumental to the success of the Self-Service Sundays pilot, establishing a new service model that expanded access while maintaining quality;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors hereby recognizes and commends Kimberli for her exceptional service, innovative programming, and unwavering commitment to bringing people and ideas together, enriching the lives of Contra Costa County residents and strengthening the community; and extends its heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on her retirement after more than 18 years of dedicated public service, with gratitude for her lasting contributions and the positive impact she has had on generations of library patrons and community members.