91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — The Board of Trustees has named Genevieve S. Owens library director, effective March 1, 2014. She is the current president of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (, a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½).

Owens is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Kentucky and has her Master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She began her career at the University of Missouri –St. Louis Libraries and also worked at Bucknell University’s Bertrand Library in Lewisburg, Pa. She has been interim director since former Director John A. Moorman, 91´«Ã½ Executive Board member, retired in December 2013. She has been employed at the Williamsburg Regional Library since 1996 and became its assistant director in October 2001.

“The Board is extremely pleased to select a library director with Genevieve’s skills and experience,” said Board of Trustees Chair Jean Van Tol. “She is highly respected in her profession, is thoroughly versed in Williamsburg Regional Library operations, and knows our community well.” Owens is vice-chair of LEAD Historic Triangle, secretary on Literacy for Life’s Board of Directors, a member and past-president of the Rotary Club of The Historic Triangle and also serves on the United Way of Greater Williamsburg’s Board of Directors.

Owens stated that she is honored to accept the position, noting that the Williamsburg Regional Library has a local, state and national reputation for excellence. “I am especially excited about working with the library’s staff members,” she said. “They inform, enrich, and strengthen our community with excellent collections, programs, and services. I’m eager to foster a collaborative workplace, communicate openly and effectively, and lead in a way that helps all of us achieve the best for our users.”

Williamsburg Regional Library consists of the James City County Library, Mobile Library Services and the Williamsburg Library and serves more than 85,000 people in the City of Williamsburg, James City County and York County. For the past six years, the national publication Library Journal has rated WRL as one of the best public libraries in the U.S. by naming it a Star Library. For more information, contact Jean Van Tol at (757) 220-3248, jeanvantol@cox.net

The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) is the national association for information providers who work in collections and technical services, such as acquisitions, cataloging, metadata, collection management, preservation, electronic and continuing resources.

ALCTS is a division of the 91´«Ã½.