The Board of Trustees of the Oneida Public Library has appointed Michele Ryan to be the library’s new director, effective September 1.
Ryan has worked at the OPL, first as Children’s Specialist and then as Youth Librarian, for some 20 years under the leadership of the retiring director, Carolyn Gerakopoulos. She received her masters in library and information science from Syracuse University.
In announcing the appointment, Rick Kinsella, library board president, said, “We are very pleased to have such a dedicated, talented and capable person to be working as our new director. Ms. Ryan has established many positive relationships locally through her work in this community and her experience with the Mid-York Library System.”
Ryan, a native of Canastota, said that she was very fortunate to find her calling at the OPL, “where no two days are alike and I get to indulge my passion. I see the library as an informal enrichment center available to the entire community that supports life-long learning. I can’t wait to get started.”
Both Kinsella and Ryan noted that the new director will have very large shoes to fill. Retiring Director Carolyn Gerakopoulos, in her 20 years in the post, has moved the library into the modern era with many new and innovative services. She is also recognized as a strong advocate for adult and early childhood literacy in the region and as a founding member of the Literacy Coalition of Madison County.