Archive: Around Town

The Tompkins County Public Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Susan A. Currie as the Library’s newest director.
 
A resolution read during a special meeting of the board cited Currie’s distinguished 28-year career as a librarian with ever-increasing professional responsibilities.
 
Currie, a Mississippi native, has lived in Ithaca for 30 years.  She worked for the Cornell University Libraries from 1981 to 2004, climbing the ranks from head of circulation/reserve at Uris Undergraduate Library to director of resources and planning for the University’s Instruction, Research and Informational Services unit.  Most recently, Currie has served as the associate director of university libraries for Binghamton University.
 
A search committee, led by Board President Henrik N. Dullea has been working since March to find a replacement for Janet Steiner, who retired September 30 after 16 years of service.  The committee reviewed resumes from 23 local and national candidates and made recommendations to the board of trustees based on New York State Civil Service Examination rankings, personal interviews and day-long visits to the Library, which included meetings with the staff and public presentations.
 
Dullea said the search committee felt confident in recommending Currie.  "Susan Currie has had an outstanding professional career, and everyone who has worked with her in the past has commended her personal warmth, problem-solving skills and excellent judgment.  She is a long-time resident of Ithaca and knows our community well.  She will bring a strong commitment to community outreach to the position as well as a demonstrated record of leadership and support for her staff and colleagues."
 
Currie has called the director’s position her “dream job” and said she is looking forward to working with Library partners to ensure that TCPL continues to serve as a vital and vibrant part of the community.
 
“I’m deeply honored to be selected as the next director of the Tompkins County Public Library and to have the opportunity to serve the community. As a 30-year resident of Ithaca and Tompkins County, I’m committed to working with the library staff, the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Library, the Finger Lakes Library System and the Board of Trustees to provide outstanding library services and to continue to work to make the library a centerpiece of the community.”
 
Currie admitted that the Library will face challenges in the future, but said she felt confident that with the help of Library staff and community partners, she would be able to move TCPL in a positive direction.
 
“Among our challenges are the increasing progression of technology and the digital age which continue to present new and largely uncharted territory for library systems and users alike. And to help with these challenges, I believe that we can build upon our existing strengths to establish new collaborations which are key for success in bringing libraries into the future,” Currie said.
 
Dullea said Currie will assume the post on October 26.

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