91´«Ã½

Marie Jarry has been selected to receive the 2022 Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children. This award, sponsored by the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), annually recognizes an individual who has shown exceptional understanding and support of public library service to children while maintaining administrative responsibilities.

Marie Jarry, director of public services, Hartford Public Library, was selected for her success in developing carefully planned initiatives to support community needs, managing systemwide collection development and taking a leading role in ensuring that library design principles are employed to create an environment welcoming to all patrons. As a leader in Boundless, a model for urban learning and educational partnerships between Hartford Public Library and the Hartford school community, Marie’s goal is to improve learning experiences by increasing literacy, thus preparing students for a more promising future. According to Leslie Rodriquez-Torres, Hartford Superintendent of Schools, “Boundless provides greater access to paper books and digital resources to help our students develop that crucial life-long love of reading.”

Marie has written and received over $200,000 in grants for STEM programming and materials for Early Childhood Initiatives. She launched the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program and created the Stem Lab on the Go Program for use in the library, in school and at home. She also worked to guarantee that Hartford students and teachers had access to resources using their student/teacher ID’s, streamlining access to the library’s physical and digital collections.

According to Bridget Quinn, president and CEO of the Hartford Public Library, “Marie is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, her management style allowing for organizational growth and continued development of a staff culture of engaged, creative service-minded professionals. Marie’s vision continues to bring programs, initiatives and resources together for larger impact and social delivery.”