Greetings to the Williamstown Community!
My name is Angela Zimmermann and I am looking forward to joining the wonderful library team as the new Library Director for the Milne Public Library, having started my journey on March 11th. My first few days at the library have been lovely and everyone; staff, Board of Trustees, Friends of the Library, and volunteers have all been so welcoming and caring. It’s clear how important the library is to the Williamstown community and I’m truly honored to be here and grateful for this opportunity.
I believe that libraries are pivotal components of a community connecting people to information, culture, and opportunity. Three adjectives that are important to me and drive my work in libraries are innovative, inspiring and inviting. Innovative refers to the adaptability of the library staff to meet the needs of the community through innovative and cutting-edge services and programming. Inspiring refers to my hope that every person who either visits the library, interacts with our library staff, connects with the library at a community event, is inspired to learn more about the boundless opportunities their Williamstown library offers. And inviting as the library should be a safe, welcoming and accessible place for all.
I’m originally from Wisconsin and hold a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I have been working in libraries for a little over eight years with my most recent experience as the Executive Director of the Racine Public Library. I’ve had the opportunity and support to implement a wide range of projects inclusive of renovation projects, implementing a Library of Things, launching MakerSpace areas, creating a social worker position as part of the library staff, and part of a committee that planned a 125th anniversary celebration. I stumbled upon the Williamstown Library Director position on the American Library Association website and became very interested once I learned more about the library, community and the surrounding area. Throughout the interview process and having moved to Williamstown in time to partake in some of the 150th celebration kick-off festivities, I’ve observed a community who wholeheartedly supports and loves its library. I’m eagerly looking forward to building upon that and working with existing patrons, prospective patrons, and local businesses to foster a wide range of meaningful relationships.
I’ve moved to Williamstown with my 13-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Ludwig (after the Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria), and enjoy reading, hiking, and traveling. I also speak German and Spanish and have begun learning French. If you’re familiar with the German word, Gemütlichkeit, which represents the idea of “warm cordiality, agreeableness, comfortable friendliness or congeniality,” this would be the perfect way of describing how I’d love the library to feel. I’m eagerly anticipating meeting all of you and can’t wait to see what the future holds at the Milne Public Library.
Yours in Reading,
Angela Zimmermann