Glenn Miller, Deputy Secretary & Commissioner for Libraries
I’m very excited to announce that Sarah Greene has accepted the position of Director, Bureau of State Library (BSL) with the Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL). Sarah will join our leadership team late January 2019.
Greene’s Career
Sarah is well-qualified for this position. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Vernon and Doris Bishop Library at Lebanon Valley College. Before joining Lebanon Valley College in 2015, she worked at Tidewater Community College (VA) for nine years. She began there as a reference librarian and later served as Coordinator of Technology and Library Operations. She ended her post there as Interim-Director of the newly-formed Joint Use Library between Tidewater Community College and the Virginia Beach Public Library System.
Sarah Greene
Sarah’s had experience in a variety of library and book-related settings. Just a few of these include public library reference services, work at a patent and trademark law firm library, cataloging and digitization at an academic library, as well as an apprenticeship in bookbinding and conservation. In addition, she is as an adjunct instructor for Clarion University’s Library Science Program where she teaches library administration and management.
Notably, while at the Joint Use Library in Virginia, she participated in the planning, design, and construction of a $43 million unified community college/public library. No doubt this experience will help us greatly as the Office of Commonwealth Libraries’ Forum Building undergoes renovations over the next two years.
Education
Sarah holds a BA in Philosophy from New York University and an MLS from the University of Maryland. In addition, she has professional development and training in online learning, open educational resources, inclusion, and diversity.
Personal Background
Sarah was raised in Harrisburg, PA and currently lives in Linglestown, PA with her family. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her family and her cat Esmeralda.
BSL Background
BSL traces its historic roots to 1745 when the General Assembly requested that its clerk, Benjamin Franklin, order a set of the English Statutes and maps for reference use. It has grown to one of the largest collections of materials about Pennsylvania and serves the information and research needs of all branches of state government. Its state-of-the-art Rare Collections Library includes the Provincial Assembly Collection, a historic collection of rare colonial imprints and the largest collection of Pennsylvania newspapers in the world.
As a statewide resource center and law library, it provides Pennsylvania residents with state and U.S. government documents, print materials, digitized collections, online reference services, and automated resources. Rapid access to other state and national collections is available through its online systems, networks, interlibrary cooperation, and databases. It currently employs twelve full-time professional librarians, two program-related staff, and three clerks. A major renovation and restoration of the building in which BSL and its collections are housed is expected to begin in Fall 2019.
The Future…
With Sarah Greene positioned as our new BSL library leader, I am even more confident that OCL’s future – and that of libraries across Pennsylvania – holds even greater promise. Many exciting projects and programs lie before us and, on the horizon, opportunities not yet imagined await.
Please join me in welcoming Sarah to the Office of Commonwealth Libraries.
Glenn R. Miller | Deputy Secretary & Commissioner for Libraries
Pennsylvania Department of Education | Office of Commonwealth Libraries
Room 200 Forum Building
607 South Drive | Harrisburg, PA 17120-0600
Phone: 717-783-2646 | www.education.pa.gov | @PaDeptofEd
www.facebook.com/PADepartmentofEducation | pinterest.com/PADeptOfEd
VIDEO: #PAHasYourBack
The mission of the Department of Education is to ensure that every learner has access to a world-class education system that academically prepares children and adults to succeed as productive citizens. Further, the Department seeks to establish a culture that is committed to improving opportunities throughout the commonwealth by ensuring that technical support, resources, and optimal learning environments are available for all students, whether children or adults.
This communication is issued on the Deputy Secretary’s behalf by Jonelle Darr (jodarr@pa.gov; 717-783-5725)