Amy Ryan Named Next President of Boston Public Library

First woman to hold position

The Board of Trustees of the Boston Public Library today named Amy Ryan as the next President of the Boston Public Library. After a six-month nationwide search the Trustees chose President Ryan citing her extensive knowledge of big city library systems, her management styles, understanding of technology and commitment to community libraries.

“My fellow trustees and I are delighted to welcome Amy Ryan as the president of the Boston Public Library. Since the start of this selection process, we have been committed to finding a strong leader with a clear vision to guide the library. Today we accomplished that goal. We look forward with great anticipation to working with her,” said Jeffrey B. Rudman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, after the vote.

Amy Ryan comes to the library after having served as Director of the Minneapolis and Hennepin County library system since 2005. She was honored by the City of Minneapolis for her leadership in the merger of the city and county library systems earlier this year. The commendation cited her Committee’s “hard work, clarity of vision and commitment to a right and sustainable future for the library system.”

“Strong leadership of our historic library system is crucial in creating a continuum of learning in our city. I trust Amy Ryan will bring the skills necessary to make our libraries work for everyone – from the magnificent main branch at Copley to our 26 community branches the Boston Public Library should be a treasure for all,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said.

President Ryan was chosen after a six-month selection process conducted by a search committee lead by James I. Cash, Professor Emeritus of Harvard Business School, and John H. McArthur, former Dean of Harvard Business School. Members of the Library staff and support groups and residents from throughout the city narrowed the field from an initial group of over 160 candidates. The international search firm of Korn/Ferry helped attract and screen candidates.

“I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees, Mayor, staff and residents of Boston to build upon BPL’s many strengths and to provide library and information services that touch and enhance the lives of all the people of Boston.” Amy Ryan said.

For more than 150 years, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America with revolutionary ideas and famous firsts. Established in 1848, the BPL was the first publicly supported municipal library in America , the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library and the first to have a children’s room. Today, the BPL boasts 27 neighborhood branches, free Internet access, two unique restaurants, an award-winning website www.bpl.org and an on-line store featuring reproductions of the BPL ’s priceless photographs and artwork. Each year, the BPL hosts nearly 5000 programs, answers more than one million reference questions and serves millions of people in its National Historic Landmark McKim Building in Copley Square . All of its programs and exhibits are free and open to the public. At the Boston Public Library, books are just the beginning!

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