Dr. Karlos L. Marshall Named New Director of Clark County Public Library
(Springfield, OH--)
The Library Director Search Committee and the Library Board of Trustees are pleased to announce the Board’s decision to select Dr. Karlos L. Marshall as the new Director of the Clark County Public Library.
When asked about his new role, Dr. Marshall said:
“The opportunity to lead this anchor civic institution in the community that shaped me is the privilege and responsibility of a lifetime. I look forward to working with our Board of Trustees, staff, volunteers, and community partners to build on the Library's proud legacy. Together, we will amplify our impact through innovative services, partnerships, and programs that transform the lives of all Clark County residents.”
Dr. Marshall is a graduate of Springfield High School and Wittenberg University and holds advanced degrees from the University of Dayton. Currently, he serves as the Director of Community Impact and Innovation at the Dayton Metro Library. For his work he has received numerous plaudits, including being an honoree of the Library of Congress Literacy Awards, a member of Forbes Magazine’s ‘30 under 30’ list of Education leaders, and the inaugural winner of Amazon’s “Innovator in Access” award. In May of this year, he was named to the 2026 Library Journal Movers & Shakers list among 48 national library leaders.
While at the Dayton Metro Library, Dr. Marshall launched The Center for Community Impact & Innovation at DML’s Main Library, which provides specialized services in the areas of workforce development, community wellness, nonprofits, small businesses, and older adults. He also established the Reading Railroad initiative, which engages Black men as readers, mentors, and literacy leaders in the library. In December of last year, this initiative was named the 2025 Top Innovator by the Urban Libraries Council, and it also received the Ohio Library Council’s 2026 Library Innovation Award in August.
In addition to his work in libraries, Dr. Marshall is also the co-founder and co-executive director of The Conscious Connect CDC. Based in Springfield, but also serving the Miami Valley broadly, the organization brings together public, private, and nonprofit partners to expand literacy access, strengthen neighborhoods, preserve local history, and create economic opportunity.
In stepping into this new role, Dr. Karlos L. Marshall will be the first Black library director in the Clark County Public Library’s history.
According to Christian Raffensperger, Library Board of Trustees President:
“We are proud to have Dr. Marshall join the Clark County Public Library and look forward to this exciting new chapter in our library system and our community. Dr. Marshall will be transitioning over the course of the next month and in place by the end of September.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Marshall!”
The Library Board of Trustees
Sarah Bullwinkel, Secretary
Lisa Henry
Shane Latham
Eric Powell
Christian Raffensperger, President
Noah Ristau
Chris Wallace, Vice President