Popular McLean Librarian Leaves to Head Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library

Starr Smith, whose brillant smile has welcomed readers to McLean's for four years is leaving for new job and a promotion next month.

Smith has been selected Branch Manager of the nearby Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library located on Route 7 across from George Marshall High School.

The highlight of Smith's tenure in McLean: The of Dolley Madison Library which transformed the stodgy two-room library into a glittering showplace with a backwall of 16 foot high floor-to-ceiling windows that look into McLean Central Park, giving readers the feel of a country retreat.

Smith said of her four years four months tenure, "I've loved every minute!"

"The McLean community and the Dolley Madison Library are very special places, and will remain close to my heart," she said. "I am particularly grateful for the opportunity I had to work with the fabulous library and county teams who made it possible to open our beautiful renovated building last summer." 

Dranesville Supervisor John Foust said, "Starr has done an outstanding job for the residents of McLean. She flawlessly managed the Dolley Madison library services through a major renovation and expansion project. I am sorry we are losing her at Dolley Madison but she earned the promotion and I’m very happy for her."

Kristin Cabral, Dranesville representative to the Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees said: "Starr Smith's departure as the branch manager at our Dolley Madison Library will be felt by the whole community, because she has been so effective at her job. . . The stellar Dolley Madison Library is the success it is today thanks in large part to Starr and her amazing staff.  She will be missed."

Smith's promotion is a return to Tysons-Pimmit. She was the regional children's/young adult services manager there from 2000 to 2003.  

"Whenever Dolley Madison customers are in the Tysons area...  or whenever they need to use a library on a Sunday, I hope they will visit me at my new work site -- the Tysons-Pimmit staff happily serves library lovers from across the Dranesville District and nearby areas, including McLean, Tysons Corner, Vienna, Falls Church, and Dunn Loring," she said.

She leaves behind one mystery in McLean: Whatever happened to the brass antique that belonged to the real Dolley Madison.

Back in October Smith asked McLean residents for help in finding the andirons that were a gift to the library in 1961 but have since disappeared during the library's two moves. They are still