Even in a crowd of people who know him, R. Crosby Kemper III is easily overlooked.
He's a rich, connected man whose name is branded across the metro. His family has made its Kansas City-founded bank, UMB, one of the nation's most stable, with 135 branches in seven states. His face has been in newspapers and business magazines. His hand is still fresh from the congratulatory touch of first lady Laura Bush, who just presented him with an award coveted by every U.S. librarian. But the Kansas City, Missouri, Public Library director remains inconspicuous, working the room with an almost stealthy charm.
On this October evening, nearly 300 people have packed the stately main floor of the Kansas City Central Library. The high-ceilinged vestibule of the former bank folds discussion among small groups of local politicians, architects and environmental activists into an excited hum. The event about to start is "Conversations on the Environment," a year-old lecture series put on by the library and a dozen other groups that has become a big draw for the library. Tonight's speaker, Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will cite the rehabilitation of old buildings as an act of environmental responsibility and urban-core invigoration.
Kemper stands, hands clasped in front of his waist, a patient smile on his face as he waits for the polite moment to enter each conversation. When he does, he drops historical names and dates with easy erudition, his references meandering back and forth over the line between intellectual vanity and sincere enthusiasm.
Printed matter is always stitched to his right hand — the monthly program of library events, a hardback copy of Reinventing Knowledge by Ian F. McNeely and Lisa Wolverton, a crinkled printout of the latest state assessment of the Kansas City, Missouri, School District. He has the disheveled look of a college professor who has forgotten his last barber's appointment and left his nail clippers stuck in a history book to hold his place. His suit hangs as though tailored for a man 10 pounds heavier and a couple of inches taller. The sleeves graze his knuckles. His pants sag in the back.
As members of the audience settle into their seats, Kemper scribbles some notes on a credit-card-sized scrap of paper. He climbs the podium to introduce Moe but can't stifle a sly mention of yesterday's trip to the White House. His gold medal from the Institute of Library and Museum Sciences, he tells the audience with a conspiratorial smile, was a ploy to save precious symbolic real estate in a time of financial panic.
"Actually, the Asian central bank was trying to repossess the White House, and we were there to stop it," he says. "We did. So it's safe for a couple more days. Until they screw up again." He gets the laugh.
Kemper knows about saving important real estate. He stepped in as library director at a key moment. In 2005, the renovated Central Library had just opened, the new Plaza Library was racing toward its debut, and the library was facing a $1.4 million hole in its budget. The incoming leader would be lauded for the library's rise to prominence or blamed for its failure to meet expectations. So the banking scion put himself front and center at the library, taking a leading role as no other director had done. Several times a week, he introduces a speaker or an author.
"It helps brand the library," he says. "It gives us a face."
As the face of the library, Kemper is staking his legacy on something only a man possessing 23,000 books of his own would attempt: making Kansas City smarter.
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Brilliance is good, connections don't hurt either. But Kemper III would possibly be more effective were he apolitical, exhibiting a sort of Swiss neutrality, or at least remain mum about his political ideas. Guess that's expecting too much in KC, especially from a descendant of a powerful Republican banking family. And what's influence if you don't use it?
Nonetheless, it's refreshing to read about a wealthy Kansas Citian who's both philosophically-minded and egalitarian, eccentricities and all.
Brilliance is good, connections don't hurt either. But Kemper III would possibly be more effective were he apolitical, exhibiting a sort of Swiss neutrality, or at least remain mum about his political ideas. Guess that's expecting too much in KC, especially from a descendant of a powerful Republican banking family. And what's influence if you don't use it? Nonetheless, it's refreshing to read about a wealthy Kansas Citian who's both philosophically-minded and egalitarian, eccentricities and all.
Unlike Crosby Kemper, I am a library director WITH a masters degree in library science (and another in public administration).
When I studied library science at the University of Oklahoma in the dark ages of the 1960's, they actually spent time detailing KCPL as the way NOT to run a library.
It's now considered one of America's best urban libraries.
Very little of what a major public library director does is dependent on having a MLS degree. Directors in large urban libraries have people to do that for them.
What Crosby is, is a brilliant, well connected administrator who makes every director in Missouri think out of the box. They don't teach that in library school.
Carl R. Sandstedt, Director
St. Charles City-County Library District
Unlike Crosby Kemper, I am a library director WITH a masters degree in library science (and another in public administration). When I studied library science at the University of Oklahoma in the dark ages of the 1960's, they actually spent time detailing KCPL as the way NOT to run a library. It's now considered one of America's best urban libraries. Very little of what a major public library director does is dependent on having a MLS degree. Directors in large urban libraries have people to do that for them. What Crosby is, is a brilliant, well connected administrator who makes every director in Missouri think out of the box. They don't teach that in library school. Carl R. Sandstedt, Director St. Charles City-County Library District
It's the GW Bush career track, Jennifer. Use your cronies to bend every rule to bequeeth you a public position,where you can protect and promote the private interests of money.
Changing state law to put Crosby Kemper at the head of the Kansas City Public Library is a spit in the eye of every
taxpayer and voter in Missouri.
It's the GW Bush career track, Jennifer. Use your cronies to bend every rule to bequeeth you a public position,where you can protect and promote the private interests of money. Changing state law to put Crosby Kemper at the head of the Kansas City Public Library is a spit in the eye of every taxpayer and voter in Missouri.
Is this right? He didn't want the job, then he got a state law changed to get it? Since I've been in town, I've always
heard good things about the Kemper people. And maybe this is the right thing for Kansas City.
But what about every other library in Missouri? What if dishonest businesmen in other towns take over their local library systems for their own purposes?
Why did the Missouri legislature go along with this?
Is this right? He didn't want the job, then he got a state law changed to get it? Since I've been in town, I've always heard good things about the Kemper people. And maybe this is the right thing for Kansas City. But what about every other library in Missouri? What if dishonest businesmen in other towns take over their local library systems for their own purposes? Why did the Missouri legislature go along with this?
Kemper is revamping, redefining and reinvigorating what libraries are supposed to be doing. Libraries need to evolve with the times and Kemper is not afraid to take risks and elevate the standards of excellence in his profession. I can see why other library professionals, faced with shrinking crowds and interest, might be a little bit jealous. Keep up the good work Mr. Kemper.
Kemper is revamping, redefining and reinvigorating what libraries are supposed to be doing. Libraries need to evolve with the times and Kemper is not afraid to take risks and elevate the standards of excellence in his profession. I can see why other library professionals, faced with shrinking crowds and interest, might be a little bit jealous. Keep up the good work Mr. Kemper.
Great article....thank you for taking the time to report on a local organization that is making a difference by doing things "outside the box." Mr. Kemper is certainly an inspiration on many different levels.
Great article....thank you for taking the time to report on a local organization that is making a difference by doing things "outside the box." Mr. Kemper is certainly an inspiration on many different levels.
Most librarians that I have spoken with, both in and outside, the Kansas City public library believe this man has made a mockery of their profession and their life's passion. Prior to his arrival, according to them, the KCMO library was respected nationally and now it is considered to be sub-par. I am involved in the non-profit community and the charging of rooms is not what will make the library solvent. It also alienates those that may have the ability to partner and be an ally to the library. The board sounds as if they are impressed by the Kemper name instead of looking at benchmarks of other organizations to see if this man's vision is truly good for the library.
Most librarians that I have spoken with, both in and outside, the Kansas City public library believe this man has made a mockery of their profession and their life's passion. Prior to his arrival, according to them, the KCMO library was respected nationally and now it is considered to be sub-par. I am involved in the non-profit community and the charging of rooms is not what will make the library solvent. It also alienates those that may have the ability to partner and be an ally to the library. The board sounds as if they are impressed by the Kemper name instead of looking at benchmarks of other organizations to see if this man's vision is truly good for the library.
I'm sure he drives the library people nutz but this new inventive freemarket style leadership is inspired, i've gone to more library events in the last year than i have in my whole life combined. but the article never says, is it getting kids reading?
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