Sara Slymon Email & Phone Number

I have been a practicing, professional librarian for 30 years, serving in both public and corporate libraries. I have been in senior leadership for 17 years.Equal access is one of my guiding principles, guaranteed by the ALA Bill of Rights, I have worked tirelessly to implement best practices in this arena by adding new language collections, ELL and ESL materials and programs, inclusive library programming, and outreach to people of all ages, origins, and abilities. I have a wealth of experience leading teams large and small, managing collections, diversifying staff, providing cultural and educational programs, and building community relationships. I am successful when working with Trustees, Town officials, fellow Department Heads, Library Foundations, Friends groups, staff, and community stakeholders. I excel at maximizing the impact of the Library on the communities we serve.Budget management: I have managed budgets from $1m-$5m, and oversight of $5m in Trust funds, $1M in Foundation assets, and $100k+ in Friends savings. All libraries I have managed have had repeated budget increases, including staff expansion, IT expansion, and outreach and programming growth.Construction and renovation experience ranges from securing $2.5m to renovate the Turner Free Library in Randolph, to a $4.4m renovation of the Coolidge Corner Branch Library, and the construction of the new, $17m Mattapan Branch Library.Professional development and continuing education are a priority of mine, for myself and for staff. I have presented at ALA, MLA, NELA, at the Boston Public Library, and throughout Minuteman Library Network. I have been a featured speaker at the Library Directors Summit, and have presented symposia at Simmons College, where I am on a sabbatical from the Doctoral Program.

Listed skills include Library Science, Collection Development, Library, Public Libraries, and 22 others.