State Librarian Talks Future of Libraries in Tredyffrin

Pennsylvania's new state librarian Stacey Aldrich spoke at Tredyffrin Library Friday, her ninth stop on a statewide tour to introduce herself to local librarians and discuss the future of the library system.

Aldrich said her goal was to collect feedback from the crowd of about 20 people who gathered to hear her speak in the library's meeting room. 

During her presentation, she outlined ways to make the library system sustainable and to reduce procedural burdens on library workers. She cited, as a common example, a librarian who wants to close a library for two hours for renovations, who must start by writing a formal request letter.

"You sometimes have to get your boards to approve it. Then you send it to us, and we have a staff member who has to review it, and then it comes to me," Aldrich said.

"I would prefer that you spend your time, not in a bureaucracy, but in supporting your libraries," she said.

Aldrich formerly served as the state librarian of California, and assumed her new position in Pennsylvania on Nov. 5, 2012. Her official title is Deputy Secretary in the Department of Education for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries.