This study explores the role of public library directors as community leaders: how they form community networks, solve community problems, and build a range of community capital assets that can be reinvested into the community. Research methodologies included content analysis and narrative inquiry that elicited the study participants’ recall of critical events. The study revealed the perceptions of 14 public library directors about what it means to be a community leader and, through narrative storytelling, how the library directors played a leadership role in their communities. The study participants identified diverse opportunities that could make a difference in their community and used various approaches to address complex community issues. The participants provided 45 examples of initiatives, programs, or service changes that helped to build human, social, political, built, cultural and natural community capitals. The programs and activities included supporting youth, fostering cultural understanding and the humanities, and building the knowledge economy. The study results illustrated how public library directors are helping to build sustainable, holistic communities that foster social inclusion, increase human knowledge, and promote healthier, stronger, more inclusive communities. The results confirm that the work of public library directors in holistic community building was grounded firmly in the community development literature. This study built upon a definition of community leadership; created a typology of community leadership characteristics; provided a linkage to the “greater good” work of public libraries; and extended the concepts of community leadership and community building. The results of this study may help to inform the national dialogue and directives on community leadership and public libraries by adding empirical research on holistic, sustainable community leadership and public libraries to the civic agenda.