[Libs-Or] B.J. Toewe named Salem Public Library Administrator

[Sonja Somerville]

Following a nationwide search, long-time Salem Public Library Youth
Services Manager B.J. Toewe has been selected as the new Salem Public
Library Administrator.
 
In this new position, Toewe will lead all operations for the Salem
Public Library, which serves the residents of Salem, Oregon at a Central
Library downtown and a branch in West Salem. Salem Public Library is a
division of the City of Salem and a member of the Chemeketa Cooperative
Regional Library Service, which links 18 member libraries with a shared
electronic catalog and courier service.
 
"With her track record of developing and leading successful library
programs, B.J. is a tremendous asset for our community,” said Deputy
City Manager Sean O’Day. “I am very pleased BJ has accepted this
position and look forward to the many accomplishments that await her.”
 
B.J. Toewe is a native of eastern Pennsylvania who began her library
career as the Youth Services Manager at a county library in New Jersey
after earning her masters in library science from Rutgers University. In
1982, Toewe accepted the position of Youth Services Manager at Salem
Public Library. Since July 2009, Toewe has served as interim Library
Manager.
 
“I am delighted to be selected as Library Administrator,” Toewe said.
“I have loved being a part of Salem and Salem Public Library. I look
forward to taking on new challenges and serving our community in this
new capacity.”
 
During her tenure as Youth Services Manager, Toewe has cultivated a
thriving program of service to children and families that offers eight
storytimes weekly, an ambitious annual Summer Reading Program,
children’s book groups, parent and day care provider training, and a
multitude of opportunities for child and family learning and fun. Toewe
has launched the annual Great Library Camp-In, established the library’s
Discovery Room, and is currently leading the effort to create a separate
Teen Library area within the Central Library.
 
Toewe is the 1990 recipient of the Oregon Library Association’s Evelyn
Sibley Lampman Award, recognizing significant contributions to
children’s services in Oregon, and the 2005 honoree for the OLA
Distinguished Service Award, recognizing exception service to Oregon
libraries.
 
She is immediate past chair of the Oregon Library Association’s
Children’s Services Division, an associate member of the Assistance
League of Salem, a member of the Rotary Youth Literacy Coalition, and a
member of the Library Committee of the Elizabeth Bowers Zambia Education
Foundation.
 
In her new position, Toewe will guide the efforts of a 51-member staff
that each year checks out 1.3 million items to community members,
attracts more than 90,000 people to cultural and educational programming
for children, families, and adults, and hosts 74,000 public computing
sessions.
 
More information about Salem Public Library is available at
www.salemlibrary.org.
 

 
  ( mailto:libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us )
Sonja Somerville
Community Relations Coordinator
Salem Public Library Foundation

Phone:     503-588-6083
E-mail:      ssomerville at cityofsalem.net
FAX:         503-589-2011
Address:   585 Liberty St. SE
                 Salem, OR 97301
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20100208/1b17ed0b/attachment.html>