T O: All Staff and Library Trustees

F R O M: W. Lawrence Buck, Chair

B&ECPL Board of Trustees

S U B J E C T: Library Director Announcement

D A T E: January 18, 2008

The following is the text of a news release that will be distributed to media outlets today concerning our Library Director position. We felt it important to share this information with our internal constituencies prior to its release publicly.

At its regular monthly meeting on January 17th, the Executive Committee of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to recommend the appointment of Bridget Quinn-Carey as the next Director of the metropolitan Library System serving a population of 950,000. The committee's recommendation will be referred to the full Board for formal approval at its next meeting, January 24th.

B&ECPL Chairman W. Lawrence Buck expressed his wholehearted endorsement of the committee's recommendation. "Ms. Quinn-Carey brings intellect, energy and infectious enthusiasm to the Library. She represents our next generation of visionary leadership."

Quinn-Carey was one of three finalists interviewed for the post one week ago. She received extremely favorable evaluations from three separate stakeholder groups and from a public forum convened in the Central Library's Mason O. Damon Auditorium. "She demonstrated personality, poise and professionalism, " Buck observed. "Trustees, staff and members of the general public awarded her high marks at every session."

The Board of Trustees were sufficiently impressed with Quinn-Carey' s final interview on January 10th that they immediately began confidential negotiations with her to determine a mutually acceptable compensation and benefits package. Both parties appear ready to seal an agreement upon formal approval by the full Board. Quinn-Carey' s first year's salary will be the Board's advertised base of $107,500.

Quinn-Carey, currently Director of the Essex Library Association in Essex, Connecticut, is delighted with the news of the Executive Committee's recommendation. "My family and I are eager to make our new home in Erie County, where we already have ties." On the subject of her new assignment and responsibilities, she added: "B&ECPL has weathered some storms in recent years, but with strategy and stamina, it now appears primed to regain a position of greatness. Working with staff, board(s), volunteers and friends I hope to build on recent successes to help B&ECPL achieve its potential as a model public library system."

Quinn-Carey grew up in Bellport, New York, where her mother, a children's librarian, inspired her to pursue a career in librarianship. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from SUNY Binghamton and earned her Master of Library Science Degree from St. John's University. In 2003, she won The New York Times "Librarian Award."

She and her husband, James W. Carey, a West Seneca native, have been married 15 years and have two daughters, Quinn 11 and Emma Pilar 5.

Asked for one comment on her role in B&ECPL's future, Quinn-Carey believes she can: "position B&ECPL as Erie County's leading cultural and educational institution. Our libraries should be primary destinations for community residents and visitors alike. There is no limit to the services, resources and treasures we have to share."

Subject to Board approval next week, she plans to report for work in March.

The Librarians Association party at the Frog Grill was a success! Many thanks to those who attended. Check out these photos from the event.

The next meeting of the Bibliographic Electronic Evaluation Resources Committee will be Wednesday, January 30 at 6:15 p.m. at W. J. Morrissey's Irish Pub. All BECPL librarians current, former, and retired, are invited to attend the meeting. W. J. Morrissey's is a relatively new pub located at 30 Mississippi Street in the Cobblestone District near HSBC Arena. The pub is decorated with lots of Irish memorabilia. Parking after 5 p.m. is not a problem. I have viewed the menu. Light dinners, salads, sandwiches and appetizers comprise the bulk of the menu. They do have several vegetarian items, as well as, salads. They have a very good beer selection with approximately 14 different beers on tap, as well as, a very complete selection of Irish whiskeys. Also, they have wine, spirits and soda pop.

I hope that you can attend. Please spread the word to those who are not on our mailing list. This is an opportunity to converse with your friends and co-workers in a comfortable, non-work setting. We would enjoy your company.

Let me know if you are planning on attending by Monday, January 28, so that we can make reservations.

Thanks,

Tom