Senate confirms KC’s Crosby Kemper III for federal post; Library needs new director
Crosby Kemper III will step down from his post as the Kansas City Public Library’s executive director after the U.S. Senate voted Thursday to confirm him to lead a federal agency.
President Donald Trump nominated Kemper in November to serve as director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency which provides grant funding to libraries and museums. Trump had previously sought to shutter the agency before choosing Kemper for the role.
The Senate voted unanimously to confirm Kemper to lead the Washington, D.C.-based agency, which has an annual budget of $252 million.
“I am honored,” Kemper said. “This is really a tribute to the wonderful work of the board and staff of the Kansas City Public Library and the place of leadership libraries in Kansas City have taken nationally.”
Kemper spent nearly 15 years as the Kansas City Public Library’s executive director. A member of the wealthy Kemper family, he has previously served as CEO of the UMB Financial Corporation and co-founded the Show-Me Institute, a free market think tank in St. Louis.
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, praised Kemper’s selection for the federal post.
“He has a deep-seated appreciation for the historical, cultural, and educational value museums and libraries have in local communities,” Blunt said. “For the many years I’ve known Crosby, he’s been actively engaged in numerous civic organizations, all of which have made our state an even better place to live and work.”
Under Kemper’s leadership, the Kansas City Public Library received national recognition for its special events. More than 500,000 have attended events or visited exhibits at the library’s art galleries in the past five years, according to a statement from the library.
“Crosby embraced that challenge and led the Library to new levels through public programs, innovative process and the development of a top-notch staff,” said Jonathan Kemper, president of the library’s board of trustees and Crosby Kemper’s cousin.
Jonathan Kemper said the library’s board has begun its search for a new executive director, but he did not specify the timeline for a decision.
