Meet SCLSNJ’s Branch Managers:
Pictured are (left to right): Rebecca Crawford, Mary Jacobs Memorial Library branch manager; Nanette Peterson, Manville Library branch manager; Hannah Kerwin, Watchung Library branch manager; Doug Poswencyk, Somerville Library branch manager; Carolyn Della Sala, North Plainfield Memorial Library branch manager; Cindy Mangel, Bound Brook Memorial Library branch manager; and Melissa Banks, Peapack & Gladstone Library branch manager.
(Somerset County, NJ: May 11, 2015) Somerset County Library System of New Jersey has announced seven branch managers who will take their new positions May 18: Rebecca Crawford, Mary Jacobs Memorial Library branch; Nanette Peterson, Manville Library branch; Hannah Kerwin, Watchung Library branch; Doug Poswencyk, Somerville Library branch; Carolyn Della Sala, North Plainfield Memorial Library branch; Cindy Mangel, Bound Brook Memorial Library branch; and Melissa Banks, Peapack & Gladstone Library branch.
As branch manager, Nanette Peterson is looking forward to enhancing the Manville Library branch’s prominence in the community. “I want to raise awareness of all of the terrific services and resources we have available that members of our community have a right to access just by being residents – from the citizenship classes to family tree research, from Lego Club to Flipster digital magazines, from popular books to popular CDs,” said Peterson. “I also look forward to working with the hardworking staff in the school system to ensure that we’re supporting them in their efforts to continue to make strides in literacy.”
“I honor and respect the rich history that has a strong presence at Mary Jacobs Memorial Library branch,” said Rebecca Crawford, who will be branch manager there and holds an undergraduate history degree. “I’m looking forward to immersing myself in the community, learning about the community and making sure we’re continuing to meet the community’s needs.”
“I see definite potential for attracting more community participation by reinvigorating the library layout,” said Hannah Kerwin, who will be branch manager for SCLSNJ’s Watchung Library branch. “The library needs physical space where adults, teens and children can meet and take part in activities. Comfortably designed, visually stimulating spaces will encourage people to visit the library and to return again and again.”
Doug Poswencyk sees a lot of opportunity in Somerville as he steps into his role as the branch manager at the Somerville Library branch. “Somerville is an exciting town that keeps getting better and better,” he said. “The Somerville Library branch has a great foundation with the staff’s experience and exciting new ideas and new energy. I look forward to working with the staff as we explore the great potential there.”
Carolyn Della Sala, who will be the North Plainfield Memorial Library branch manager, and Cindy Mangel, who will be the Bound Brook Memorial Library branch manager, both agree that getting to know their communities and their communities’ needs are top priority. “I look forward to working with members of the community, the strongly qualified staff, Library Advisory Board and the Friends of Bound Brook Library to provide services and a facility that will enrich the lives of community residents,” added Mangel.
Melissa Banks, who will be SCLSNJ’s Peapack & Gladstone Library branch manager, reinforced Della Sala’s and Mangel’s sentiments. “I look forward to working with the dedicated library staff and community to build on and enhance the services that already exist at the Peapack & Gladstone Library branch,” said Banks. “I am also particularly looking forward to working with the Friends of the Peapack & Gladstone Library, as well as the staff, on the new library renovation project.”
In April, SCLSNJ announced three area managers: Central Area Manager Edward Hoag, who will manage the Bridgewater Library branch while also overseeing the Somerville Library and Peapack & Gladstone Library branches and the Branchburg Reading Station; South Area Manager Karen Pifher, who will manage the Hillsborough Library branch while also overseeing the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library and Manville Library branches; and East Area Manager Lauren Ryan who will manage the Warren Township Library branch while also overseeing the Watchung Library, North Plainfield Memorial Library and Bound Brook Memorial Library branches and the Washington Valley Reading Station.
“A successful library system is more than a collection of branches — it’s a team effort at providing the very best library services in each community it serves,” said Brian Auger, SCLSNJ county library administrator. “The changes we have made to the organization will make it easier to continue improving service and adapting to changing technologies.”
“The system has changed dramatically in the past ten years,” said Keith McCoy, SCLSNJ public services director. “We have added three branches to the existing seven. We are responding to the introduction of e-books, streaming music, and other electronic sources that the public is demanding. We are seeking to re-configure our spaces to make them more usable, as well as attractive, for county residents. We need to be more nimble in terms of providing technology to staff and public. All of this tells us that we cannot do business as we did when we had card catalogs and 33 RPM records in our collections. The Library needs to be an active participant in 21st century life.”
Visit your local SCLSNJ library branch and say hello – these friendly faces want to hear from you and look forward to working with you to ensure that SCLSNJ is delivering the services and resources you need and want. For more information about SCLSNJ, visit SCLSNJ.org.
About Somerset County Library System of New Jersey
Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ) partners with you to connect, to explore, to share and to discover. Together we enrich lives, expand knowledge and strengthen communities. SCLSNJ branches can be found in Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Hillsborough, Manville, North Plainfield, Peapack & Gladstone, Rocky Hill at Mary Jacobs Memorial Library, Somerville, Warren Township and Watchung. Additionally, there are two SCLSNJ reading stations in Branchburg and Washington Valley. Visit SCLSNJ.org for further information about library services offered at SCLSNJ.
