The Pawling Library Has a New Director
by Susan Stone
If you have been to the Pawling Library in the last couple of weeks, then you have noticed a new, friendly face among the faces with whom you are well acquainted. That face belongs to the new Library Director, Brian Avery.
Brian has a wealth of experience, serving in libraries in the greater Boston area, as well as in Florida. Circulation Supervisor, Library Technology Information Management Supervisor, and Reference Librarian are some of the job titles that he has held. Brian has a Bachelor of Arts in Law, Letters and Society from the University of Chicago, as well as a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He completed his Master of Science in Library and Information Sciences at Florida State University in Tallahassee.
Brian has always loved libraries “because they provide access to such great information and because they belong to the entire community. People of every age and type not only are able to use the library, but also are able to help decide what the library should be like. I think libraries are amazing and I feel very privileged to be able to work for one, ” he said. Additionally, Brian feels “the best part of my job is seeing people’s lives change. It could be something small like finding a series of Sci-Fi books you really love or discovering a new hobby through a library event, or it could be something big like learning English through an ESOL program or researching and training for a new career. Working at the library means you get to be a small part of a lot of people’s lives, and that can be extremely rewarding.”
Brian, like most librarians, is an avid reader. He’s a big sports fan, particularly of soccer, and is fond of international travel. He has most recently settled in the neighboring community of Patterson.
So, if you are visiting the library, or are in town on other business or errands, you are invited to stop in to meet Brian. He’s the really tall guy with the newest friendly face among the Pawling Library family…and he is looking forward to be of service!
