Samantha Schwarz became the Elkader Public Library Director on June 3, 2025. Samm graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with an MLIS and an MA in History in 2018. Prior to working at Elkader, Samm worked at Mount Mercy University as the Access Services Librarian where she started in 2019.

Samm has experience working with technology, having established the digital repository at Mount Mercy and trained in digital library management at UWM. She specialized in local history while working on her history degree and including it in her thesis.

Small town Iowa is nothing new to Samm as she has family roots in Clayton county and nearby Fayette and Buchanan counties. Growing up, Samm spent a lot of time with her grandparents and helping on the family dairy farm. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting (particularly knitting and crocheting), riding her bike, and spending time with her dog, Tilly. She also continues to help on the family farm including, sometimes, picking up rocks out of the field.