The Newark Public Library announced today that it has named Thomas Alrutz as Interim Director of the Library. A longtime Newark resident and Director of the Newark Public Library from 1979 to 1987, Mr. Alrutz was the Deputy Director of the New York Public Library in charge of its branch library system at his retirement in 2009. He was appointed to the Newark Public Library’s board in 2014 and has served as Treasurer and chair of the board’s Operations Committee. Alrutz has stepped down from his position on the Library’s board to assume this new role.
The Library has initiated its search for a new Director, since the departure of Jeffrey Trzeciak, who will be responsible for the Library’s collections, community-building, services, staffing, communications, and partnership development. The effort is being led by Lauren Wells, PhD, former Chief Education Officer for the City of Newark and currently Vice President of the Library’s board. Dr. Wells is directing a search committee consisting of three Newark Public Library board members, two staff members and two community members, all of whom bring diverse perspectives and experience to the effort.
“This search provides a tremendous opportunity to consolidate and enhance the Library’s position as an anchor institution for the Newark community,” said Tim Crist, President of the Board, Newark Public Library. “We’ve been on a trajectory of unprecedented growth, increasing circulation, programming and participants, engaging diverse audiences, and strengthening our position as a leading cultural and educational anchor in Newark. We know that under Lauren’s leadership, we’ll attract the best candidates in the field.”
As examples of the Library’s outstanding growth, from 2017 to 2018 the number of programs rose by 276%; the number of attendee visits increased by 352%; total patron visits increased by 12.4%; and public computer sessions increased by 46%.
Newly-appointed Interim Director Thomas Alrutz said, “Lauren brings leadership and a deep understanding of the Library’s importance in our community. That, combined with her command of Newark’s educational and community landscape, assures us that we will be choosing among the best candidates from libraries across the country, and particularly those in diverse, urban communities.”
“With the support of the talented and diverse search committee, I am confident that we will find a dynamic Director who reflects our mission of transforming lives and strengthening communities through innovative services, stimulating programs, and inspiring collections,” said Wells. “I’m honored, excited and optimistic to be driving such a critical imperative for all Newark residents.”
The following are just a few recent highlights of the Library’s contributions to Newark residents of all ages and its diverse communities:
- The opening of the newly renovated James Brown African American Room. Dedicated to African American Studies and Research, its mission is to provide a dedicated space for the development, inspiration, and enrichment of all people; to serve as a repository and hub for cultural programming within the main branch of the Library; and to honor the legacy of principal librarian, James Brown (1937-1991), for his insistence of institutional inclusion.
- The launch of the Free Library Card campaign with Newark Public Schools. September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and the Library partnered with Newark Public Schools to distribute 45,000 Library cards to every student and teacher in the district.
- #NewarkReads. Mayor Ras Baraka launched this city-wide initiative with the Library to help improve literacy by providing tools needed to succeed in school, career, and life. It includes a mayor’s youth book club, training for young people to help adults improve their reading skills, and a birth-to-third grade initiative to get young struggling readers on grade level.
- Commitment to the Hispanic Community. The New Jersey Hispanic Research and Information Center’s Puerto Rican Community Archives of the Newark Public Library was the winner of the 2019 Innovative Archives Award, which is given every year to an organization that has made an outstanding effort to preserve and make accessible archival Puerto Rican materials in the State of New Jersey.
