Craftton Public Library names new director; board fills out membership

The Craftton Public Library has a new director. At the April 23 council meeting, Tiffany Hickman, the council-appointed representative to the library board, said Emily Brian Reer began in late February as the library’s director. According to Hickman, Reer holds a master’s degree in library science from the University of Pittsburgh and previously served as assistant library director at Greentree Library for nine years and as children and teens librarian at Wilkinsburg Public Library.

Hickman said community and staff reaction to Reer’s hiring has been positive and that the library board has recruited new members — Elizabeth Marin, Sarah Rizzy and Marshall Del Rosario — bringing the board to full capacity. Hickman also noted that longtime adult services librarian Tracy Vogle retired in February after a “distinguished tenure.” The borough has posted the adult services librarian vacancy publicly; Hickman said applications closed April 12 (she was not certain on that date).

Hickman said the library director is exploring options to reduce excess noise in the children’s room (possible acoustic tiles or other vendor solutions) and that the board may bring a request to council if a funding decision is needed.

Why it matters: A new director and a full library board shape programming and services for patrons; council members thanked board members and staff for their work and said they look forward to summer programming including a summer reading program return.

What’s next: Library staff or board will bring any formal facility or budget requests (for example, noise mitigation or doors for the children’s room) to council when they have cost estimates.