The Princeton Public Library will have a new leader at the helm when Jennifer Podolsky becomes the 14th executive director of library in 2020.
Podolsky will begin her duties as executive director in mid-February and takes over from Brett Bonfield, who resigned as director to accept a position at the Cincinnati Public Library.
“Princeton Public Library is a vibrant, respected library that is vitally important to the community it serves. The idea of being a part of a team that elicits such devotion and esteem, both locally and throughout the state, was an exciting prospect for me,” Podolsky said. “I knew of Princeton’s reputation and I was eager to help shape its future.”
She currently is the executive director of the East Brunswick Public Library.
“We are delighted that Jennifer Podolsky will be the next executive director of Princeton Public Library (PPL),” said Pam Wakefield, president of the library’s Board of Trustees. “Jennifer is an accomplished and visionary librarian who is a consummate professional, a mentor and a role model. I think she will build on the excellence to which we as a community have become accustomed.”
Prior to her tenure in East Brunswick, Podolsky worked as project specialist for Business and Technology Outreach in the Lifelong Learning Division at the New Jersey State Library.
She has also worked as a youth services librarian for the Somerset County Library System and was a volunteer research librarian for the archives department of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
“Princeton Public Library has a proven track record of successful programs and initiatives that serve the community well. I hope to build on those successes by utilizing my background in multi-type libraries to identify areas of opportunity for PPL,” Podolsky said. “Throughout my career I have enjoyed finding new ways in which a library can serve its community. Princeton is an exceptional library, and it is the perfect place for me to continue that work.”
According to library officials, Podolsky has experience in management, research and editorial positions in publishing and libraries. She started her career as the senior research editor at Reed Elsevier, where she supervised a staff of researchers, managed various research assignments, conducted online database training and assisted in collection development.
Podolsky graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and anthropology and a master’s degree in library and information science.
“I will be looking to start the Strategic Planning process soon, as the current plan is near its completion point. I will be looking to assess our role as a trusted source of information in the community, examining the accessibility of our services both within and outside the library building, and looking at removing any barriers to utilizing those services,” Podolsky said. “I am eager to get the community’s input about our programs and services as I develop my vision.”