Chad Helton's journey to becoming a leader in the library field is nothing short of inspiring. From humble beginnings and facing personal challenges, Helton has risen to become the CEO and President of the Enoch Pratt Free Library system (EPFL). His story is a testament to the transformative power of libraries and education.
Enoch Pratt Free Library
New Leadership at the Enoch Pratt Free Library
The Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL) announced Chad Helton as its new CEO and President on Sept. 30. "I’m very excited," said Helton. He is committed to continuing the work being done by EPFL and also looking to further advance the library and services offered.
Helton said he’s committed to continuing the work being done by EPFL and also looking to further advance the library and services offered. "I’m creating partnerships with staff, creating partnerships with elected officials and really creating a strong foundation with people that live in the city," Helton told the AFRO.
“I’m holding office hours and ‘Meet the CEO’ events at each individual branch library once a month, so that I can connect with residents of the city to hear from them directly and see what it is that they want from us.
Read also: The Life of Chad Everett Harris
Overcoming Challenges
Though Helton is now president and CEO of a major library system, he is clear in how others have played a role in his success, including his mother and father, James and Lillie Helton. "My parents grew up in segregation," he said. "The opportunities not afforded to them were afforded to me and my brother."
"People really died for the right for me to be able to do anything in this world that I wanted to try and do, and I wasn’t taking advantage of that," he said.
The Turning Point
"I dropped out of college for 10 years, and during that time period a lot of things happened," he said. "My father passed away and I started having conversations with my mom. I started to have conversations with my grandmother, Jettie Mae Helton, who grew up in Jim Crow and lived to be 102 years old.
Helton had been a college dropout for eight years, working three jobs at a time and relying on friends for a place to live, when he got on the library track. During the subsequent 10 years, he experienced homelessness and chronic underemployment.
"When you are chronically underemployed, you don’t have full time jobs. You’re working part-time job after part-time job, and they’re somewhat dead end jobs. “Matt knew that I was chronically underemployed and couch surfing,” said Helton. Matt saw that I was really, really trying hard. For one of the first times in my life-I was really trying hard. He felt if he got me a job at the library delivering books with this golf cart, it would somehow influence me to go back to college, because I’d be back on campus.
Read also: "Married to Evil": Chad Graves
Helton had been driving a golf cart restocking shelves in a library when a former University of North Carolina professor encouraged him to re-enroll, finish his degree and lean into library work.
During that conversation, the professor “said to me, the library is the way for you to help people change their lives,” Helton said. “And I really took that to heart, and I put everything I had into working in libraries and making sure that I created opportunities for people that were like me.”
"I would not be where I’m at right now, had it not been for him taking that opportunity and really taking a chance on his friend. I’m forever grateful for that," Helton said.
"Let’s be honest, there’s so many people out in this world that work very, very hard, and the opportunities just don’t open up.
A Trailblazing Career
Helton is a long way from delivering library books to satellite libraries on the campus of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He landed on his career a decade after he dropped out of college and spent years couch surfing and taking odd jobs.
Read also: Vallow-Daybell Trial: Key Evidence
Helton has had a lengthy career in academic libraries and then public libraries all over the country. Over his career, Chad has held progressively responsible roles in both academic and public libraries.
Helton, the first black top administrator at several college libraries and the Los Angeles library system, was named director of the Hennepin County Library system last week. Although he has been the first black director at the libraries where he has worked, he will be the second to run the Hennepin County system. Charles Brown served as director from 1994 to 2004.
"There aren’t a lot of Black men that do this work. At one point, there were less than 20 Black, male directors in public libraries in the United States," he said. "When you think of all of the libraries that existed in this country, and the fact that there were less than 20, it’s very important to see Black men and Black faces doing this work and being in these roles. It’s really hard to make change when people don’t know that this is something that they can do.
Today, Helton leads a system that, in a different decade, would have scoffed at the notion of a Black man taking the helm. In the Sept. 13, 1930 edition of the AFRO, the paper detailed how EPFL refused to hire Black employees- telling Black residents it was “needless” for them to apply for training to become employed by the organization. Decades later, Helton joins a short list of EPFL directors.
Since its founding more than a century ago, there have only been 13 EPFL presidents, including Helton. According to information released by the library, a total of three African Americans have led the organization. Anna Curry took the helm in 1981. After Curry, Dr. Carla Hayden, another African-American woman, took on the role in 1993.
Helton earned a Master of Science degree in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in African-American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also pursuing a Doctor of Education from Vanderbilt University.
“I really view the library as a place of social impact,” he said.
His resume notes that he received a Bachelor of Arts in African American studies from UNC in August 2009 and a Master of Science in library and information studies from Florida State University in December 2011.
He held a variety of jobs at university libraries and then went on to top positions at several community libraries in California, including working as the Los Angeles Public Library’s director of branch services.
Previous Roles and Accomplishments
Prior to taking the EPFL position, Helton served as a library consultant and as a director in more than one library system. In Minnesota, he directed the 41 branches of the Hennepin County Library as they took on the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, he led Branch Library Services at the Los Angeles Public Library, which included oversight of 70 branches.
Most recently, Helton provided strategic guidance as a library consultant. Prior to that, he served as Director of Hennepin County Library in Minnesota, where he managed 41 branches, successfully led the system through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and oversaw an annual operating budget of $65 million. Helton’s leadership ensured continuity of services, supported key infrastructure projects, and addressed budgetary needs.
Hennepin County Library
He has also held a key leadership role as the Director of Branch Library Services at the Los Angeles Public Library, where he directed over 70 branches and implemented and oversaw the departmental budget of over $114 million. Additionally, he has held roles with the Contra Costa County Library as Deputy County Librarian and the City of Palo Alto Library as Library Services Manager.
Congratulations to Chad Helton, who was named the next President and Chief Executive Officer of the Enoch Pratt Free Library (MD). Chad was previously Principal Consultant for Chad Helton Consulting, LLC where he assisted libraries in executive management, coaching, and leadership.
Prior to consulting, Chad led Hennepin County Library System. Chad has also held executive leadership and management positions at Los Angeles Public Library as the Director of Branch Library Services, and at the Contra Costa County Library as Deputy County Librarian.
Chad has held leadership roles at the Palo Alto City Library, Stanford University Green Library, University of California Davis Shields Library, North Carolina State University D.H. Hill Library, and the Davis Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Goals for the Enoch Pratt Library
Helton is looking forward to expanding EPFL’s capacity to deliver programming needed in the communities of Baltimore while also improving access to digital literacy programs and wellness resources. "The library is a government entity that people willingly want to come to, and people are generally excited to come to. We have a responsibility to assist people with whatever their needs may be,” said Helton.
Helton says his goals for Enoch Pratt Library include improving facilities, bolstering programming and digital resources and continuing to serve the community.
"Because we work so closely with the community, this really creates a space where we're able to bring about change," Helton said.
At the Pratt Library, Chad’s vision is to enhance both the physical and digital infrastructure of the library, ensuring it remains a vital resource for all Baltimore residents. Helton’s vision for the Pratt Library is to enhance both its physical and digital infrastructure while expanding outreach to all populations. He plans to foster stronger partnerships with local organizations, positioning the library as a hub for learning, connection, and growth that benefits the broader community.
The Pratt boards’ goals for Helton include pursuing a “massive capital undertaking” of raising $200 million, Espenshade said.
Helton said he’s not worried about hitting that goal.
“Considering all the work the library does, I really do believe that it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge getting that done,” he said.
The Pratt boards have set a goal for Helton to raise $200 million for capital improvements.
Nor did he say he was particularly concerned about infrastructure. He said one of the three facilities he had toured as of Thursday had a broken elevator. On Thursday, the central library had a power outage that caused the cancellation of a major event.
“All libraries have facilities challenges,” he said.
Leadership Style and Philosophy
"Dr. Clark told me that the library was my way to help people change their lives in the way that he helped me change mine for the better," Helton said. "So I took that idea and I ran with it."
"Libraries and education are the great equalizers," Helton said. "I would be nowhere if it wasn't for my education."
"I do not take this responsibility lightly," Helton said in a statement. "Libraries are not just places for books-they are vital community resources that promote the greater good," he said.
“I understand the significance of leading one of the nation’s first free public library systems, and I am deeply honored to take on this role. Libraries are not just places for books-they are vital community resources that promote the greater good.
“The Board of Directors is eager to support Chad as he leads the organization into a future defined by innovation and service,” Espenshade added. “Under his leadership, the Pratt Library will continue to be a welcoming and essential resource, empowering Baltimore’s residents through free access to critical resources and opportunities.
“His deep industry experience and creative approach to addressing infrastructure needs will be invaluable as we work toward a bold future for the Pratt Library,” Espenshade said in a statement. “We are confident that his leadership, coupled with a commitment to community, will ensure that the Pratt Library continues to thrive as a cornerstone of Baltimore.
Letscher was impressed with Helton's résumé, engaging personality and desire to keep the Hennepin County system relevant.
"We are very, very lucky to have him," she said. "His leadership style struck me as very collaborative. He gets his greatest energy from talking to people in the community."
"My leadership style is trying to get people involved and having their opinions heard and respected," he said. "I've learned that I have some really great ideas and some really terrible ideas. Sometimes I need to be quiet and let others bring in ideas."
Helton cited Hennepin County's MNspin program as an example of how his administrative manner will fit in.
Popular articles:
tags: #Chad
