New library director has long local history
by Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
The South Brunswick Library board of trustees selected Christopher Carbone to be the township’s new library director.
Mr. Carbone, 38, had been serving as acting director since September, when Lorraine Jackson retired after 29 years at the library’s helm. His appointment as the permanent director took effect on Dec. 1. The board selected him Nov. 29.
A lifelong South Brunswick resident, Mr. Carbone attended the township’s public schools and graduated from South Brunswick High School in 1987. He first began working at the library in 1989 on a part-time basis at the circulation desk, while earning a degree in business administration at Trenton State College — Now The College of New Jersey.
”I had always been a frequent library user. At the time it was not my plan to make a career out of it, but when I began to work I realized that this was where I wanted to be,” Mr. Carbone said. “It is very exciting, and I am very proud to be named the director of the library I have known and loved all of my life.”
After graduating magna cum laude in 1991, Mr. Carbone attended Rutgers University, earning a master’s in library science in 1994.
In his 18 years working for the library, Mr. Carbone has held various positions. He has been a senior librarian, as well as head of the reference department. In 2004, he was made the assistant director.
”The library can mean so many different things to different people. For me, it has been a place of comfort as well as a place of knowledge,” Mr. Carbone said. “The library has been my second family for a long time.”
Library board of trustees President Muhammad Ashraf said the library received 16 applications for the position, with Mr. Carbone being the only internal candidate.
Mr. Ashraf says that the field was narrowed down to Mr. Carbone and one other candidate, who each were interviewed twice by the board. He says that the board unanimously chose Mr. Carbone.
He will be paid $85,000 in 2008, according to township spokesman Ron Schmalz.
”We felt that he was the best candidate for the library to move forward under,” Mr. Ashraf said.
Mr. Carbone says that he is looking forward to the work ahead of him.
”My goal is to provide the greatest library for South Brunswick that we possibly can,” he said. “We hope that everyone in town will be coming to visit us.”