In a meeting at the Monmouth County Library’s Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury, Judith Tolchin (third from left in front row) was named director of the library system by the members of the County Library Commission.
Press release from Monmouth County Library System
Judith Tolchin, Acting Director of the Monmouth County Library system since January, 2014 was appointed Library Director at the recent meeting of the County Library Commission, held at the Eastern Branch location in Shrewsbury.
Tolchin, who has been with the library system for 23 years, immediately outlined a vision and her plan of action and expectation for the coming years through a Powerpoint presentation, covering everything from the need and desire for facilities improvements to the headquarters in Manalapan, to grants, corporate sponsorships and other means to raise funds to supplement county taxes that finance the library system’s 13 branches and 14 member libraries.
Library Commission Chairperson Renee Swartz observed that that “Judi has done an exceptional job as Acting Director over the last 18 months and has proven to be, following a national search, the most qualified candidate to take the leadership role in the county library.”
In her presentation to the Commissioners at their meeting, Tolchin, who earned her master’s degree in library and Information Science from Rutgers University, noted her vision incorporates the recommendations made in a recent IVY Group consultant study of the library system commissioned by the Board of Chosen Freeholders, as well as expanding on technology, an improved web site, including iconic access to collections and access for the physically disabled for the library website, and a catalog upgrade to facilitate searches. Tolchin also highlighted programming possibilities to “literally put the library in the palm of your hand.”
Created by the County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1922, the library system also aims to help its patrons meet their educational, recreational, and cultural needs through collections, professional services, information resources, and innovative programming. Towards those ends, the system provides automated access to a vast network of electronic content resources, as well as entertainment and education as diverse as music, dance, business and finance, health, book clubs and games.
