Chris Freeman Email & Phone Number

West Bethesda, Md

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Montgomery County, Maryland

Here at MCPL, I am accountable for the day-to-day operations of 21 branch libraries and one correctional facility library. This is a big and exciting job that has the potential to fill my day with new experiences and challenges. However, at MCPL, where I report directly to the Library Director, I'm continually charged with myriad other projects as well. I'm currently the Chair of the committee charged with developing our new strategic plan, I've recently completed a complete redesign of the performance management tool used to assess senior managers. I am lucky to be deeply involved in the planning process for our ongoing branch renovation cycle (in which we renovate three branches a year so that every branch gets a face lift once every seven years). I work closely with the Budget Office to plan the $1 million annual 21st Library Enhancement CIP revenue the County has provided us. I Chair the system's Policy and Procedures Committee and, thus, I visit and work in branches whenever I can so I can keep in touch with the way our policies and procedures actually function in real-world situations. I feel like I hardly have a chance to catch my breath sometimes but working at MCPL in my capacity as a executive level administrator feels like an education every day. I wouldn't have it any other way.

During my time at Stockton-San Joaquin County PL, I've worked hard to improve library services for our customers in many ways. Some examples include increased open hours, the addition of both weekend and evening hours in all branches, placing a graduate school-educated librarian in every branch library, lending of digital media (ebooks and digital audio), lending eReaders (Nooks, in our case), a completely redesigned website, an improved public catalog, and a mobile-friendly web presence, membership in a lending consortium of nearly 60 public and academic libraries, the installation of user-friendly self-service check out kiosks in every branch library, and the ability for our customers to pay fines and fees using a credit/debit card. Most recently, I wrote a grant proposal to the California State Library for which SSJCPL was awarded $75,000 for use in the development of a strategic plan that will be complete by June, 2014.

Mpa, Public Administration

Mls, Library Science

Ba, Spanish