Contact: July Cole
Associate HR Analyst
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6105
BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY HIRES JEFF SCOTT AS LIBRARY DIRECTOR
Berkeley, October 14, 2014 — The Board of Library Trustees (BOLT) and the Berkeley Public Library are pleased to announce the selection of Jeff Scott as the new Director of Library Services. He commences his new role in early November, replacing Donna Corbeil, who retired October 3, 2014, after nearly eight years in this position.
“I am thrilled that Jeff Scott will be joining the Berkeley Public Library as our new Director of Library Services,” said BOLT Chairperson Abigail Franklin. “BOLT is especially impressed with Jeff's communication style, innovative thinking, and passion for libraries. We unanimously selected him out of a pool of many talented candidates. We relied heavily on valuable feedback from management, staff, and members of the broader community who so generously and graciously took the time to meet with a number of fine candidates. We are very excited for Jeff to be at the helm of the Berkeley Public Library and know that he will lead our organization in a wonderful direction.”
Jeff has worked in libraries for nearly 17 years, much of that time in administration. Currently, Jeff is the County Librarian (Director of Library Services) for the Tulare County Library. During his years there, Jeff expanded and renovated several of the system’s 15 branches, including two green branch renovations in impoverished areas, funded by a $300,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant. Jeff has written and received over $1 million in grants during his tenure in library administration.
While using a participatory management style with library board and staff, Jeff has developed and established next-generation services such as an award-winning Teen Digital Media Lab, the library's first e-book collection, and a Nook® lending program. In 2013, under Jeff’s leadership, the Tulare County Library won the Merit Award from the California State Association of Counties for the project, “Your Library in More Places,” a book machine program that provides 24/7 access to books in underserved areas.
“I am thrilled to accept the position of Director of Library Services for the Berkeley Public Library,” said Jeff Scott. “I am extremely honored to be selected to work for such a culturally rich and historically important community such as Berkeley. I would like to thank the Berkeley Public Library Board of Library Trustees, library staff, and the community of Berkeley for this amazing opportunity. I am deeply grateful.”
In addition to his work in Tulare County, Jeff is a member of the Board of Directors of the California Library Association and is the Chair of the Association's Management Interest Group. Prior to Tulare County, Jeff was the Library Director for the City of Casa Grande Library (AZ) for five years. During his time there, he championed a $4 million General Obligation Bond, approved by 66% of voters, to expand library services, including an award-winning 16,000 square foot joint-use library with a local high school. In addition, Jeff led a community-based planning process and developed a strategic and marketing plan, which resulted in a 40% increase in library usage.
A native Californian, Jeff grew up in Southern California before moving to Arizona to attend Arizona State University (ASU), where he majored in history. While an undergraduate, he began his library career as a library assistant at the Arizona Historical Foundation, an archive at ASU. He went on to earn a Master of Information and Library Science at the University of Arizona. Jeff has been married to his wife, Sarah, for 15 years; together they have two children, ages 11 and 12.
“I am impressed with Jeff Scott’s energy, enthusiasm and zeal for public libraries,” said Trustee Darryl Moore. “I am really looking forward to working with him in expanding the Berkeley Public Library’s incredible programs and services.”
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