Monday, June 29, 2015

Da Rold to Retire, Rogan Named New Director

From the Plainfield Public Library:


The Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Mary Ellen Rogan to the position of Director, following the retirement of Joe Da Rold.  Mary Ellen, who has been Plainfield's Assistant Director since 2009, was selected after a widespread recruitment by the Board.  From 1991 to 2009 she was employed by the New York Public Library's Performing Arts Library as Senior Archivist, Manager of the Wilson Processing Project, and Assistant Director for Special Formats Processing.  She is active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, currently serving as NJ State Vice-Chair of Lineage Research, and is NJ State Registrar of the Daughters of 1812.  She will assume the Plainfield Directorship on September 1, 2015.

Joe Da Rold has been Executive Director of Plainfield Public Library since 1996.  He began his library career in 1966 with Los Angeles County Public Library System, then became City Librarian of the Santa Fe Springs City Library.  He served as the first Executive Director of the Whittier Historical Society & Whittier Museum and the Hathaway Ranch Museum.  Prior to returning to New Jersey, where he was raised, he was employed by the Burbank Public Library as Head of the Warner Research Library.  He has been the recipient of numerous local and statewide awards, including NJLA's Librarian of the Year, the Susan G. Swartzburg Preservation Award, the Roger McDonough Librarianship Award, and the Gail Stern Award.  He has been active in several NJLA Sections, having served as President of Urban Libraries and History & Preservation and is Past President of the LMxAC Board of Directors.


6 comments:

  1. The Plainfield Public Library was lucky to have a man as dedicated as Joe Da Rold. I'll miss him. That said, I'm happy that Mary Ellen Rogan was appointed. Congratulations to her!

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  2. Best wishes to Joe Da Rold on his well deserved retirement. Because of his dedication and tireless efforts, he has made the Plainfield Library one of our City's crown jewels.

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  3. Blessings to Joe Da Rold on his new life's journey. His dedicated service to the Plainfield Public Library is exemplary. Thanks to him for giving Plainfield the best of the best.

    Dee Dameron

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  4. Joe Da Rold and the Plainfield Public Library have been so entwined that they could be synonyms. Under his watch the Library became the unique jewel unmatched by other municipal libraries in the state, yet never appreciated by an administration and council that would cut its funding.

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  5. Joe has done a fantastic job over the years--I served with him on committees for several years before I came on the city council and I marvel at his love, energy, and enthusiasm for our city--he and his incredible staff have made our library one of the best in the state (as I hear all the time from folks OUTSIDE of Plainfield as well), in spite of the political and budgetary vagaries that the library has had to face in recent years. The library is the backbone of the community (in my humble opinion) and Joe has been instrumental in making it so!

    Rebecca

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  6. I want to thank, Joe, for giving Plainfielders a library to be proud of. Over the years we have had little to give us pride in Plainfield, but our library is a center of pride. I hope Joe's future is bright and fulfilling. Thank you, Joe, for doing so much for our community.

    Bob Bolmer

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