Leadership Change Coming to APL
Albany Public Library will be searching for a new leader as current executive director, Scott C. Jarzombek, is resigning at the end of the month to take a new position out of state. Jarzombek has served as APL’s executive director since June 2014.
The APL Board of Trustees will conduct a search for a new executive director. The board’s Ad Hoc Executive Director Search Committee will convene in the next several weeks to determine a course of action. The board appointed current Assistant Director Melanie Metzger as interim executive director starting Nov. 1. She has served as assistant director since 2013.
“It has been a fantastic opportunity to serve Albany for the last seven years. I am incredibly proud of everything done by our staff and the support we have received from stakeholders and community partners,” Jarzombek said. “I am grateful to the trustees who were invested in my success. I especially want to thank the library patrons who have made the work worthwhile through their engagement and support. It was a difficult decision to leave APL and Albany, but I am excited for the next stage of my professional career.”
He is relocating to become the Fairfield, CT, town librarian and oversee that municipality’s main library and branch library.
Jarzombek has spent close to 20 years at APL. He began his career as a librarian at the Howe Branch from 2000 to 2009. As executive director, Jarzombek focused on community engagement, which included: producing an annual community report, hosting open office hours for the public and frontline staff, writing blogs for local news sources, serving on city advisory boards, and occasionally performing as the library’s mascot, Bleecker.
The library has accomplished a number of initiatives under Jarzombek’s direction. There was an emphasis on providing more services to the community, including: eliminating late fines for all patrons, installing bicycle repair stations at most branches, and providing WiFi at city parks and Albany Housing Authority locations. Other projects helped increase revenue and decrease expenses, including: establishing a partnership with CDTA to sell Navigator bus passes and leasing space to ACAP for Head Start classes at the Washington Ave. Branch, saving money by refinancing the bonds for the library’s 2009 building project, and securing PILOT payments for upwards of $400,000 per year. Still other initiatives focused on the library’s physical plant, including: developing APL’s first comprehensive facilities plan, adding study and meeting rooms at Washington Ave., creating a pocket park at the Howe Branch, and beginning a renovation of the North Albany Branch.
“We will certainly miss Scott and we wish him well on his next adventure. He brought a unique perspective and energy to Albany Public Library and helped us accomplish a great deal,” said APL Board of Trustees President Sarah Shearer. “We are very lucky to have dedicated staff and trustees at APL who will continue to provide much needed services to our community on a daily basis. The board is embarking on a search for a new executive director, and we are confident that the library will continue to run effectively and efficiently during that process.”
“Scott will be greatly missed. We taught each other a lot over the years during my time on the board. He has been a stellar leader for Albany Public Library. I am proud of his success and know that he is deserving of great opportunities,” said APL Board of Trustees Vice President Brenda Robinson.
The library will share updates about the search process on the website.
Stephanie Simon
Stephanie Simon is manager of APL's Communication and Creative Services Department, which provides content and information for the library's website, social media, publications, videos, podcasts, and other outlets. Stephanie also manages APL's public relations and marketing efforts.