For Immediate Release: 7/9/2010 8:05 am
Worcester, MA (July 9, 2010) - The Worcester Public Library's Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mark J. Contois has been appointed as the new Head Librarian for the Worcester Public Library. There was a national search with over thirty interested candidates.
Mr. Contois started his library career at the Springfield City Library. He was Assistant Director at the West Springfield Public Library before becoming the Director of the Palmer Public Library where he oversaw the renovation and expansion of the facility. He has been the Director of Libraries for the Framingham Public Library since 2006.
He holds a B.A. in History from Westfield State College and a Master of Library Science from Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Boston.
While in Palmer he was active in the C/W MARS (Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing) network, the same library network that provides circulation, cataloging and databases for the Worcester Public Library. He co-chaired the Public Relations Committee for the Massachusetts Library Association. In Framingham he is on the boards of the Friends of Literacy Unlimited and the Framingham START Partnership. He participated in the Metrowest Leadership Academy and is a member of the Framingham Downtown Renaissance.
Mr. Contois said, "I am dedicated to forging traditional and non-traditional partnerships with area organizations... I believe the public library is at the heart of each community, and therefore has much to offer, and much to be gained through working with community organizations, schools, higher education and government agencies."
Kevin M. Dowd, President of the library's Board of Directors, stated "I am very excited to introduce Mark Contois as the Head Librarian for the Worcester Public Library. An extraordinary Library requires an extraordinary director, and in Mark, we have found the perfect fit. Worcester will be well served by his leadership, talent, enthusiasm, and vision."
