The Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Integrated Library System (PaILS)  is pleased to announce the appointment of Carrie Cleary as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective March 4th, 2019. Carrie has a history of serving Pennsylvania libraries as a former District Consultant for the Capital Area Library District and as Project Manager for the Pennsylvania Public Library Broadband Project. She brings with her a strong technology background and a deep commitment to serving library patrons throughout the Commonwealth.

The PaILS Board of Directors is looking forward to working with Carrie to continue to grow SPARK and to serve Pennsylvania libraries.

Carrie Cleary – Professional Biography:

Carrie Cleary has had a long career of service to libraries.  It all started in her Iowa hometown public library where she shelved books and typed and filed cards for the paper card catalog.  She worked at Iowa State University Design Center Reading room while she pursued her BS in English.  After graduation, she began her first professional job as Library Director for a rural public library.  After three years in Mediapolis, Iowa, including completion of an emergency renovation project after arson devastated the building, Carrie moved to Boston to attend Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science part-time while she worked at Harvard Law School Library as Access Services Supervisor.  Upon completion of her MLS, she became District Consultant for the Capital Area Library District at the Dauphin County Library System.  Serving over eight years in that role, Carrie worked on many projects with all types and sizes of Pennsylvania public libraries.  Carrie then served as Project Manager for the PA Public Library Broadband Project.  To support her husband’s career, Carrie relocated to the Seattle area in 2015, working a short term job analyzing Mobile Services homebound delivery for King County Library System—where she used the Evergreen ILS—before returning to Pennsylvania last year.
Carrie experiments often with open source software and appreciates “technology as a tool,” as long as the cost isn’t too high and security and privacy is respected.  Carrie is an organic gardener and home cook.  She enjoys reading and watching science fiction and horror.  Carrie is a baseball fan for the Red Sox.  Carrie currently lives in Perry County with her husband, Michael, and her beloved dog and cat.